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Howard University Hospital Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Howard University Hospital (HUH) is committed to raising awareness for this deadly disease, which impacts the lives of so many women and men in our country. More than 400,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. In the U.S. today, there are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors – the largest group of all cancer survivors. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, HUH is pulling out all of the facts to help educate the local community about breast cancer awareness in hopes that more people get tested.
BREAST CANCER FACTS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW:
Early detection is the best protection.
BREAST CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CANCER FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE.
Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women.
A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is
1 in 1,000
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CONTINUES TO RECOMMEND WOMEN SHOULD START ANNUAL BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS WITH MAMMOGRAMS AT AGE 40.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Any change in the size or shape of the breast. Pain in any area of the breast. Nipple discharge other than breast milk (including blood). A new lump in the breast or underarm.
HOW CAN I LOWER MY RISK?
KEEP A HEALTHY WEIGHT AND EXERCISE REGULARLY. If you are taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, ask your
Breastfeed your children, if possible.
DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL doctor about the risks.
OR LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL YOU DRINK.
HUH ADVOCATING FOR HEALTH AWARENESS WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART MAMMOGRAM SCREENINGS
Each year, breast cancer impacts the lives of millions of women and men and their families. The American Cancer Society reports that more than 400,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, meaning one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. For African-American populations, the numbers are even more dire. African-American women younger than 45 have a higher breast cancer occurrence than their white counterparts. AfricanAmerican women also have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate – the highest of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. An early diagnosis through services such as routine mammograms have helped to reduce breast cancer mortality by 40% since 1990.
Howard University Hospital is taking on the fight against breast cancer by offering patients 3D mammography technology that vastly improves early detection. The state-of-the-art equipment is designed to provide detailed, high-quality, 3D images and a more comfortable mammogram experience. 3D mammography takes images of the breast in slices from many different angles and provides a detailed view of dense breast tissue, making it easier to detect the size, shape and location of any potential abnormalities. The technology is proven to be more accurate than 2D mammography in locating invasive cancers as well as reducing false-positive findings and the need for additional tests. 3D mammography is recommended for all women between the ages of 35 and 50, especially for individuals who may have denser breast tissue, those who may have a family history of breast cancer and anyone who may be at a higher risk for developing the disease.
