October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month there will be a flurry of activities associated with breast cancer. Many of these will take the form of fund-raising for breast cancer research, but we should also take a moment to reflect on important breast health issues. These need to concern us, not only in October, but throughout the year. Breast self-examination can be done very easily and when put into practice, subtle differences in the texture of the breasts as well as new lumps that can be found and can be called to your doctor's attention. Ninety-nine percent of the time these will turn out to be perfectly benign, but in the odd instance, a previously undetected malignant lesion can be found. Thus, breast cancer awareness translates into a year-round health measure.

In Rhode Island every woman over the age of 40 has access to an annual mammogram. Health insurers in Rhode Island must cover annual mammograms and Medicare provides coverage for women over the age of 65. For women 40 to 49 who do not have insurance, the State Department of Health has an outreach program that will provide not only a screening mammogram but, if necessary, further diagnostic studies and treatment will be available. This program is supported in part by funds from the Rhode Island Cancer Council. For women 50 to 64, the State has received federal funding to implement this program. There should be no financial barrier for women over the age of 40 to obtain a mammogram every year.

Over the last decade, women have participated in of this important screening examination but this pertains for the most part to younger women under 65. Women over 65 have not availed themselves of this free examination. Less than 50% of women over the age of 65 are having regular mammograms. Unfortunately, the risk of breast cancer rises with age so that these women over 65 are a high-risk population who need this examination. They are not having their breast cancers found in an early, easily manageable stage. For this reason, although our mammography performance record ranks high for utilization in the State, our death rate from breast cancer remains above the national average.

The tragedy is that we have the services available in Rhode Island. (There are over 40 mammography centers scattered throughout the State.) Medicare pays for the examination almost entirely, except for a small deductible payment that the women must provide. If this is a hardship, there are numerous resources available to pay this bill and should not be an impediment for older women to participate in the mammography program. The Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition and the Rhode Island Cancer Council are available to help remove the obstacles for women to have this important annual examination.

Being aware of breast health every day of the year, not just in October, the declared breast cancer awareness month, can save lives and improve the quality of life for the people of the State of Rhode Island.

For more information and answers to specific questions contact the Rhode Island Cancer Council at info@ricancercouncil.org or call us at (401) 728-4800 or toll free 866-879-4100.

IT IS EASIER TO PREVENT CANCER THAN TO TREAT IT.

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