Moments in Time

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Why Not?

Studies show about 67 percent of women above 40 report having a mammogram within the last two years resulting in a lower compliance rate at around 50 percent. -Americancancersociety.org. With the statistics, information and awareness for breast cancer, why are studies showing a lower rate of compliance. In our families, social media, work place we are surrounded by friends, loved ones that have lost a loved one because of this disease.

 As we know Breast cancer does not discriminate. It has no specific age, race or gender. So why do we still have a large number that do not get exams? Mammograms are covered by most health insurance and for free by mobile mammograms services. So, why not? Many fear mammograms are uncomfortable, fear of what this diagnosis means, the fear of medications, chemo or mastectomy.

The focus should not be fear, but what happens when we don’t complete mammograms and self-exams. The question is do I allow fear to determine if an exam is uncomfortable, or the what ifs. Should I hesitate and by doing so wait until it’s too late. And by waiting hearing your doctor state you have stage 4 breast cancer, or the cancer has spread throughout the body. Take control of your health, complete your monthly exams and take an hour out of a day, once a year to get your mammogram. The life you save may be your own.

Luck is not an acceptable substitute for early detection. -Valerie Harper