EARLY DETECTION CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Kansans are urged to join the fight - the fight against breast cancer. October has been proclaimed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to encourage women to receive a mammogram screening.

"Nearly 1,860 women in Kansas were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during 2002, with more than 9,500 cases of breast cancer detected during the past five years in the state," said Roderick Bremby, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). "In addition, 416 Kansas women lost their lives to the disease during the last year."

Invasive breast cancer is cancer that has begun to break through the breast tissue in which it developed and invade the surrounding areas. Invasive cancers can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system. Non-invasive cancers are those that are confined to the ducts or lobule, but can develop into or raise the risk for more serious, invasive cancer.

Mammography plays a critical role in reducing the number of deaths through early detection and screening when the disease is treatable. Clinical breast exams can also reduce those numbers by detecting breast tumors at an early stage.

"One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer at some point during her life," said Bremby. "Early detection through regular screenings can save a woman's life. Kansas women should take action this month and schedule a breast cancer screening today."

More than 90 percent of Kansas women regularly receive a clinical breast exam conducted by a health care professional and 84 percent of women over the age of 40 received a mammogram last year, according to KDHE.

KDHE hopes to reach a rate of 95 percent for mammograms by continued health promotion and education for all Kansas women. Kansas insurance laws require coverage for a yearly mammogram subject to co-pays, deductibles or limitations. Those women without insurance who are income eligible and between the ages of 40 and 64 can receive free breast cancer screenings through the Early Detection Works program administered by KDHE.

If tests indicate a problem, further diagnosis is conducted, and those needing cancer treatment may be covered by Medicaid under the Federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000.

For more information about the Early Detection Works Program call toll-free 1-877-277-1368 or on the web at www.preventionworkskansas.org

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