October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to promote awareness and raise money to combat this devastating disease. Your oral health practitioners are pitching in to spread the word. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, affecting women of all ages and backgrounds. However, it is often also one of the easiest types of cancer to detect early, and as long as it is caught in the preliminary stages, many women stand a good chance of recovery.
Detecting Cancer
Breast cancer is different from many other types of cancer in that it can often be detected without a special medical screening. However, there are several other types of screening available that is useful for getting a medical opinion on a troubling lump. Most doctors use either breast mammograms or sonograms to detect cancer, two non-invasive procedures that take only a few minutes to complete.
The Importance of Self-Screening
Often, breast cancer manifests in the form of lumps or other changes to the breast while it is still in the stage where it is fairly easily treated. Regular self exams can often catch these changes in time to get the necessary treatment to stop the cancer in its tracks. By performing screenings regularly, a woman gets to know what her breasts normally feel like and is more likely to be able to detect changes. The proper technique for a breast self-examination can be taught by a primary care doctor, or by a qualified mobile clinic or workshop hosted during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Mark McCawley and fellow periodontists in Ft. Lauderdale, FL recognize the importance of increasing awareness of breast cancer and the importance of getting screened. Protect the people in your life, spread the word about self screening to as many people as you can. Further safeguard the health of your mouth as well as your body by making an appointment with Dr. McCawley at (954) 634-5270.