October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.
Getting tested for breast cancer can make a dramatic difference in a woman’s chances of surviving the disease. The 5-year survival rate for women with breast cancer that has not spread outside the breast is 99%. However, if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the rate drops to 85%. And if it has spread to other organs, the 5-year survival rate drops to 26%.
Mammograms are the best screening for finding breast cancer. Most women start at age 50. If you are at higher risk or have a strong family history, your provider may recommend starting at 40. And early detection is the best protection.
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