PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania's acting physician general said that with so many people skipping doctor's appointments last year out of fear of COVID-19, this year it's more important than ever to bring attention to October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Denise Johnson said that in light of the global pandemic that kept people at home last year, it's key to point out that those with limited or no health insurance can get screened for cancer for free through the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Early Detection program.
"With COVID, many people put off their screenings, so we're certainly behind in terms of screenings that people need to get for breast cancer," acting Physician General Johnson said.
"We do anticipate more screening services that will be done this year, and we also anticipate finding more abnormalities because of those screenings that have been delayed."
She pointed out that breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death in women.
"As you get older, your risk increases," Johnson warned. "In fact, every day in Pennsylvania, 37 women are diagnosed with breast cancer."
But she said a screening mammogram can detect breast cancer in the very early stage of the disease, and the chances of success in treatment can rise to as high as 99%.
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"Those are completely treatable and should not impact the length of your life," she explained.
For women ages 40-64, it's recommended to get screened based on your risk.
"For those who are 50 and over, it's recommended every two years, but [younger] women may need to be screened based on their family history and other risk factors."
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She adds that breast cancer doesn't only affect women.
"If you have breasts, you can have breast cancer. So even in men, there have been breast cancers."
More information about Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Early Detection is available online.