To the Editor:

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a time where Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) joins the nation to pause and recognize and celebrate breast cancer survivors, as well as the scientific and medical advances in the diagnoses and treatment of breast cancer.

It is also a time of remembrance for those that have died from breast cancer. This year’s theme is “GIive Hope. Save Lives.” “During the month, CHMC will host Go Pink activities throughout the organization, such as a Go Pink Day, and pink mask day, to raise awareness of the importance of breast cancer screening, and to promote treatment and survivorship.”

We also use this time to highlight CHMC’s breast health services. At our Breast Health Center, we offer routine breast cancer screenings with state-of-the-art, 3D digital mammography machines. In addition to mammography, we can also offer breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and biopsy. If your screening mammogram doesn't show an area of concern but you'd still like to know more about breast cancer, we can use an assessment program to help you understand your risk.

Some genetic factors that can lead to a breast cancer diagnosis are gender, age, race, family history, and genetic factors, personal health history, menstrual and reproductive history, certain genome changes, dense breast tissue. Personal risk factors include lack of physical activity, poor diet, being overweight or obese, consuming alcohol, radiation to the chest, and combined hormone replacement therapy.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) reports that In 2020, an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 48,530 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. This year, an estimated 42,170 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S., and one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

The good news is that with early detection and state-of-the-art cancer treatment, like the options available at CHMC, the NBCF states that 64% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year survival rate is 99%. There are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

CHMC’s Breast Health Center at the Connection for Women is here to help you fight breast cancer. We're the only center in the North Country accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. That's how you know we follow the highest breast care standards.

A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and stressful. That's why our team of specialists who work in our multidisciplinary clinic breast care program will be by your side from the start by meeting with you. Our team consists of a surgeon, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist who together with you will discuss your treatment options, and you'll be able to ask lots of questions and develop a treatment plan moving forward.

Our breast cancer treatment services include chemotherapy, radiation, sentinel lymph node biopsy, surgery—including lumpectomy and mastectomy, patient navigator support, and a virtual cancer support group on Facebook.

We also offer free breast cancer screenings for the uninsured. At CHMC, we do all this and more to keep you North Country Strong. For more information visit us on the web at www.claxtonhepburn.org/cancercare.

Michele Catlin

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, community outreach coordinator