You would have to be hiding under a rock to not see all the initiatives, events, and personal stories this month to fight breast cancer, not to mention all the PINK! October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an international health campaign to educate, inspire, and promote early detection for women.
This year, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States. Furthermore, about 1 in 8 women (roughly 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Tragically, 41,760 women are expected to die this year from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1989. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances and earlier detection through screening and awareness. If discovered in its earliest stages, 95% cure rates are possible.
Breast Thermography
The statistics are staggering making early detection as important as ever. Breast thermography is one of the newest early warning screenings available today. Breast thermography is effective for women who have undergone a mastectomy, have implants, surgical reduction of the breast, and pregnant or nursing women and can scan hard to reach areas such as the armpits and upper chest.
Benefits
Breast Thermography offers younger women (ages 20-44) a tool in addition to their regular screenings and checkups as a baseline beginning at age 25. Breast cancer in younger women tends to be more aggressive and deadly id not detected early. Thermography offers the chance of detecting cancer from its very early stages and detects abnormalities 8-10 years before a mammogram.
- Detects Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Detects physiological changes
- Offers baseline tool
Early Detection Guidelines
- Initial breast scan to be taken followed by another scan 90 days later to create a baseline
- Annual breast thermography screening for women starting at age 25
- Mammography, when considered appropriate for women who are age 50 or older
- An annual breast examination by a health professional
- Monthly breast self-examination
- Personal awareness of changes in the breasts
The Thermography Center of Memphis is the first and only thermography center for healthy body imaging. For more information, visit them online today. Pink Ribbons Mastectomy and Lymphedema Boutique will strive to assist each woman who comes through our doors regain or maintain her self-esteem and good body image that was altered during and after her breast cancer treatment. We will strive to make every woman feel complete and balanced through properly fit and beautiful garments. Visit us online today to learn more or call us (901)417-6060.
Sources:
https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics
