We’re almost in the middle of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020, and one of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Bergen Imaging Center in NJ is “Should I still get a mammogram during the Covid-19 Pandemic?”
The answer is a resounding yes. Breast cancer unfortunately doesn’t stop — not even for a global pandemic. That means breast cancer screening cannot stop either. Simply put: mammography (still) saves lives!
Did you know that as a result of the pause in screening due to COVID-19, more than 35,000 breast cancer diagnoses could be delayed and 5,200 more women may die in the United States over the next decade?
The American College of Radiology® (ACR®)
Mammography, NJ: Is it Safe to Schedule My Mammogram Now?
Early detection beats intervention. Do not allow fear of the virus to prevent you from scheduling your mammogram and detecting any problems early. Our Women’s Imaging Center has taken every precaution to ensure your safety during the COVID Pandemic. You can read more about that here.
If you still have concerns about getting a mammogram, discuss your individual risk with your doctor to determine when it’s safe for you to return to care.
Why do I need a mammogram starting at age 40?
- One in six breast cancers occurs in women in their 40s, and these cancers tend to be more aggressive than those found in older women.
- According to National Cancer Institute data, since mammography screening became widespread in the mid-1980s, the U.S. breast cancer death rate has dropped 38 percent.
- A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention shows mammography screening cuts the risk of dying from breast cancer nearly in half.
- By not getting a yearly mammogram after age 40, women increase their odds of dying from breast cancer, and treatment for advanced cancers ultimately found will be more extensive and more expensive.
Take Meaningful Action for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2020
The most important thing you can do this month isn’t to ‘spread breast cancer awareness’ – it’s to schedule your mammogram, and to help your loved ones do the same.
The most rigorous scientific studies have shown that the most lives are saved by starting annual mammography screening at age 40. That’s why the American College of Radiology, Society of Breast Imaging, and other medical associations – including Bergen Women’s Imaging Center – recommend that women begin getting a mammogram, every year, at age 40.