Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. While there is no cure for breast cancer, the good news is that a mammogram can help your doctor find breast cancer early – usually 1 to 2 years before a lump is big enough to be felt. When breast cancer is found early, the survival rate is 95 percent. This is why getting your routine mammogram is so important. Women are urged to schedule mammograms at the recommended age and to not wait for symptoms. However, women should immediately contact their doctor if they experience symptoms. When breast cancer is found early, it is much easier to treat. Early detection saves lives!
On April 30, 2024, the United States Preventative Services Task Force updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening. The task force now recommends women who are at average risk for breast cancer get screened every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74.
Early detection, new treatments, and a better understanding of the disease have led to increased survival rates. Most cancers are found in women ages 50 or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. Regular screening can help detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat. An estimated 4,500 new cases of female breast cancer and approximately 720 female breast cancer deaths were expected to occur in Alabama in 2023. While the female breast cancer incidence rate of 121.8 per 100,000 women is lower than the U.S. rate of 126.8, Black females in the state have both a significantly higher breast cancer incidence and mortality rate than white females, with a rate of 27.4 versus 19.4.
Every person should know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Many early-stage breast cancers do not produce any noticeable signs or symptoms, but sometimes symptoms may be present. Most people who have breast cancer will initially notice only one or two symptoms, and the presence of these symptoms does not automatically mean you have breast cancer. If you notice symptoms or anything unusual, talk to your doctor immediately.
Changes to look for include:
Some main factors that affect your change of getting breast cancer include:
You can do the following to help lower your breast cancer risk:
The Alabama Department of Public Health is proud of the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP) which has detected breast cancer in more than 2,000 women. For over 25 years, this program has provided free cancer screening and diagnostic services to uninsured women in Alabama. To be eligible for this program, you must: 1) Be a woman, 2) Be a resident of Alabama, 3) Be between 40-64 years old, 4) Have a household income at or below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, and 5) Have no insurance.
The program also provides free mammograms for women under the age of 40 who are experiencing breast cancer symptoms, women with a known genetic mutation such as BRCA 1 or 2, and women with a first-degree relative with breast cancer or known genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or 2. If a patient participating in the ABCCEDP is diagnosed with breast cancer, she is eligible to receive free cancer treatment through the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Every woman is helped and cared for every step of the way.
Statewide funding is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Alabama, and the Joy to Life Foundation. In addition, the Joy to Life Foundation funds services for underserved women who are not eligible for the ABCCEDP. Breast cancer screening includes free clinical breast exams and biennial mammograms. In partnership with the Montgomery Cancer Center/Baptist South “Joy” bus, mobile mammography services are now available in specific regions, including Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Crenshaw, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Pike, and Wilcox counties.
For more educational resources and other information about breast cancer, the importance of early detection, and the ABCCEDP, please visit them on the ADPH website.
Scott Harris, M.D., M.P.H.
State Health Officer