Dear Editor- Re: Breast Cancer Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One in seven Colorado women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer death in Colorado, killing more than 500 women annually. At the same time, there are more than 42,000 breast cancer survivors in Colorado. Like many cancers, the likelihood of surviving breast cancer increases dramatically with early detection and treatment. Simply put, screening saves lives! Early detection of breast cancer dramatically increases women’s chances of survival – with nearly 98% of women surviving breast cancer as a result of receiving a preventive screening.

All women starting at age 40 should get a yearly mammogram, and if a woman has a family history, she should talk to her doctor about beginning screenings at an earlier age.

Many women face barriers in taking care of their own health and partaking in necessary cancer preventive screenings. Additionally, many women lack health insurance or face large deductibles. The Women’s Wellness Connection Program (WWC) is a statewide program that provides FREE breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic testing to uninsured and underinsured women who qualify. In the event cancer is detected, women enrolled in the program receive rapid enrollment into a special Medicaid program to cover the costs of treatment. To learn more about these FREE services, visit www.WomensWellnessConnection.org or call our toll free number (1-866-951-9355).

Thank you for helping get this important message out to the women in your area.

Hannah Nein
American Cancer Society