Breast cancer is the second-most common form of the disease behind some types of skin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s also the leading cause of cancer deaths for some segments of the adult female population in the country.
At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., we encourage our female patients to keep up with their mammogram schedule. If you’re overdue, there are plenty of reasons to get one.
Today, we’ll examine six reasons you should schedule your next mammogram as soon as possible.
Between 1999 and 2021, the number of annual breast cancer diagnoses climbed nearly 74,000 cases. Although this represents a slight decrease in cases per 100,000 people, breast cancer remains a common and often deadly condition.
Low-dose X-ray mammograms are a crucial diagnostic tool for detecting abnormal breast tissue growth. While most of these growths are benign, mammograms remain the best way to detect cancerous tumors in their earliest stages.
While early detection is the most important reason for a mammogram, there are six other reasons to keep up with a regular screening schedule.
We get it — life is hectic. Sometimes, routine screening appointments get in the way of immediate priorities. However, getting your mammogram should be at the top of your list.
Catching cancer before it spreads beyond breast tissue gives you a 99% 5-year survival rate, according to the American Cancer Society. Delays between mammograms widen the window in which cancers can grow and spread undetected.
While women of any age can develop breast cancer, most cases affect those over 40 — even when they’ve previously had clean mammograms. Past the age of 55, your risk grows even more.
If your mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, your risk is nearly twice as high. When two close relatives develop either breast or ovarian cancer, you’re about three times as likely to get breast cancer.
While genetics plays a role for some women, you can still get breast cancer without a family history. More than 85% of new breast cancer cases affect women with no family history.
Certain life events are statistically linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. These include:
Having more than one of these factors could further increase your risk. Discuss it with us at your next appointment.
Some lifestyle choices and conditions increase the breast cancer risk, including:
Altering your lifestyle to exclude these preventable health risks can reduce your chances of developing breast cancer.
The more risk factors you have, the greater the need for regular mammograms. Talk to our caregivers to develop a mammogram schedule that’s right for you.
Call or click to schedule an annual women’s health or breast exam with Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., today.
