The last eighteen months have been challenging, and many people have deferred routine health checks in the face of COVID. As we all find our way to the new normal, it’s time to address missed preventive care.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis among women (skin cancer is first). And while deaths from breast cancer have declined over the years, it is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women. About 255,000 women and 2,300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States every year; approximately 43,600 women and 530 men die from breast cancer each year.
Breast cancer screening cannot prevent you from getting cancer, but routine screening can catch breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years. Women who are 40 to 49 years old should talk to their doctor or other health care professional about when to start and how often to get a mammogram. All of MCI USA’s medical plans with Anthem cover screening mammograms as preventive care.
While you cannot change some risk factors like age and family history, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Don’t drink alcohol or limit your alcohol intake
- Check with your doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer or are taking or have been told to take hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptive for other ways to lower your risk
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