By: Dr. Riffat Sadiq, CEO of WNY Medical, PC, Channel Creator
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. It is estimated that approximately 310,700 women and nearly 3,000 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2024. Thankfully, 99% of breast cancer warriors will survive over a five-year recovery time frame.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so before you hand out the treats to your trick or treaters, treat yourself to maintain good breast health. Breast cancer warriors are overcoming the odds by performing self-exams for breast cancer, as well as attending their annual mammogram screenings. Self-exams begin at home when taking a shower or laying in bed at night. Checking for lumps in the arm pit is one of the first steps for checking for breast cancer. You should inspect your breasts for changes in color, shape, or contour. Upon detecting abnormalities, it is crucial to call your doctor to schedule a mammogram right away.
Many women are aware of the importance of breast self-exams for the early detection of breast cancer. Any time a woman finds a lump, it is important that she contact her health care provider immediately to have the lump examined. But if the lump is not cancer, what is it? There are three types of benign lumps. Cysts are non-cancerous collections of fluid that develop anywhere in the breast tissue. Fibroadenomas, which are also benign, are a group of cells that often develop closer to the surface of the breast, and usually in younger woman. Pseudo lumps may be scar tissue, fat, or simply a rib bone pressing into the breast tissue and compressing it. They often appear after any type of breast surgery.
Each year, WNY Medical participates with a local mammogram bus, attending various offices throughout Western New York, providing women with convenience and ease to receive a mammogram. Seen on the right is the remainder of our mammogram bus schedule for 2024. You may call our office at 716-923-4380, extension 3172, to schedule your appointment in advance, giving you peace of mind for your next annual mammogram, and for any future possibilities of breast cancer.
