DailyViews: Editorial

Show mom that you care

With Mother’s Day coming up, women across the nation will be getting flowers and cards, most with sentimental verses.

Mothers are known for being self-sacrificing, willing to put the needs of their family ahead of their own. That’s why this week is also a good time to remind the special woman in your life — whether she’s your mother, wife, daughter, sibling or a friend — to do something for her own sake — get a regular mammogram.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the No. 2 cause of cancer deaths of women. Nationally, the Cancer Society says, 182,460 women will be diagnosed with the disease this year and 40,480 will die. In Georgia, 4,910 cases are expected to be diagnosed and 1,100 women die from breast cancer.

Early detection is one of the best ways to improve your chances of survival and mammograms are the best way to catch this killer at that early stage. That’s why it’s surprising when the American Cancer Society, citing numbers provided by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, says that only 76.4 percent of Georgia women have had a breast cancer screening in the past two years.

There can be a number of reasons for that. A woman might just not want to consider the possibility, or could just be convinced it could never happen to her. It could be that the woman has meant to schedule an exam, but just never got around to it. There might be a fear that the exam is uncomfortable.

Whatever the reason, it pales against the chances of survival when breast cancer is found in its earliest stages. With all the knowledge of how serious this disease is and the availability of early detection, it’s disheartening that nearly one out of every four Georgia women is missing the chance to get this critical test conducted.

“We want women to be aware that regular mammograms are a way to detect breast cancer early so it can be treated early,” said Olga Lucia Jimenez, state public education senior manager of the Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Program of the American Cancer Society. “The more women we can reach with the message of regular screening, the more lives we can save.”

The Cancer Society has some general guidelines for women’s health, such as clinical breast exams every two or three years for women in their 20s and 30s to annually for women in their 40s. The Society also advocates annual mammograms at age 40 and an exam plan developed by the patient and doctor in situations in which family history or other factors indicate a higher-than-average risk of the disease.

For women who need help getting a mammogram, the cancer Society’s BreaTEST & MORE program is available by calling 1 (800) ACS-2345.

Mom’s always looked out for you. Here’s a chance to show her that you want to make sure she’s here for the flowers and cards next year.

The Albany Herald Editorial Board

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