Page 58 2023 PAINT THE PAPER PINK Lincoln Daily News Oct/Nov 2023 With National Breast Cancer Awareness Month underway across the country, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are reminding the public that early detection is the most effective way to prevent the deadly disease. The Governor has issued a proclamation declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 20 as Mammography Day in Illinois. However public health officials are urging Illinoisans not to wait and to schedule a comprehensive exam as soon as possible. “Regular mammograms can help detect breast cancer at an early stage when treatment is most successful. That’s why it’s important that anyone who delayed screenings during the pandemic should schedule an exam with their provider,” Governor Pritzker said. “And for those who are uninsured or underinsured, IDPH operates the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program which offers free mammograms and other important services.” While there was a precipitous drop in cancer screening tests during the pandemic, public health officials say it will take time to measure the impact of the screening gap. “Breast cancer has affected multiple members of my family and is a personal issue to me,” State of Illinois Observes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October; Governor Issues Mammography Day Proclamation for October 20 Governor Pritzker & IDPH Remind Illinoisans that Early Detection is Most Effective Way to Fight Breast Cancer said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “I know how important mammograms are in detecting breast cancer early and saving lives. A sharp decrease in the number of mammograms administered during the COVID-19 pandemic has me concerned about more advanced, difficult to treat cases of breast cancer in Illinois. I encourage Illinoisans to schedule a comprehensive exam as soon as possible and ask your doctor about breast cancer screening.” Public health officials note that breast cancer does not only impact women. Men, non-binary individuals, and trans men and women also can experience breast/chest cancer, and it is important for everyone to understand their cancer risk by consulting a trusted provider Data indicates persistent disparities in breast cancer and that more Black women die of breast cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. The breast cancer statistics are stark: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women 20 to 59. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. every two minutes. In Illinois, 10,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Risk factors for breast cancer include older age, a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and having dense breasts. Dense breasts Continued --
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