But the battle is nowhere near finished. Today, one out of every eight women can expect to be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, making it the second most common cancer for American women, after skin cancer. This year, more than 232,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease.
If you are a woman age 40 or older, an annual mammogram is your best bet for detecting breast cancer at the earliest stage, when it’s the most treatable.
El Camino Hospital offers free mammograms to uninsured and under-insured women in our community.
Did you know that only 10% of women correctly estimate their risk for breast cancer? The Breast Health Center at El Camino Hospital has an assessment tool to help determine if you are at an increased risk for breast cancer. Based on your risk profile, a customized plan can be developed to help you take full advantage of the advanced technology and techniques that are now available in the fight against breast cancer.
This article first appeared in the October 2013 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.
