With breast cancer, preventative measures highly critical
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making for an ideal opportunity to celebrate the significant gains made, as well as the need for continued vigilance, in the fight against this deadly yet highly treatable disease.
Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. According to the American Cancer Society, about 316,950 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2025. Tragically, about 42,170 women will die from the disease this year.
Faiza Hassan, M.D., is an internal medicine teaching hospitalist and primary care physician. She is accepting adult patients at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., Suite 1000. To make an appointment, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-941-0630
Breast cancer typically affects women ages 50 and older, although too many younger women are now battling it. When you think about your own circle of family members, friends and co-workers, the odds are good someone you know has been affected by it.
Thankfully, recent advances in early detection and genetic testing of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have significantly improved how we treat breast cancer, while countless nonprofit organizations and groups have done immense good in terms of awareness, funding, and support services.
Regular self-examinations and routine mammograms are the most effective ways to detect breast cancer early – when it’s easiest to treat, often before symptoms appear or the disease spreads. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the five-year relative survival rate is 99% when breast cancer is found in its earliest, localized stage.
Meanwhile, you can lower your risk of breast cancer through preventive measures like maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting your alcohol consumption, and breastfeeding your children.
We here at The Wright Center will be doing our part to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout October, we’ll be partnering with Lackawanna Mobile X-Ray to offer mammogram screenings at locations in Jermyn, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre. Visit TheWrightCenter.org/events for more information.
Meanwhile, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will be hosting the Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support Group on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of our South Scranton headquarters, 501 S. Washington Ave.
At the event, Dr. Lisa Thomas of Hematology & Oncology Associates of Northeastern Pennsylvania will deliver the keynote address, while Julie Rutkowski of the Strong and Coura’Jess Foundation will discuss the group’s mission of helping women with terminal illnesses connect with resources that can help their mental, spiritual, and physical health during treatment. The foundation is named in honor of Julie’s daughter, Jessica Rutkowski, a mother of three who died in 2021 from stage 4 triple negative breast cancer.
Admission is free, but reservations are requested by contacting Holly Przasnyski, co-director of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, at 570-209-3275 or [email protected].
Events like these highlight our deep commitment to supporting women’s health. At The Wright Center, women have access to a full spectrum of health services, including preventive cancer screenings, breast exams, and well-woman visits. We also provide bone density testing, age-appropriate immunizations, Pap smears, HPV testing, and much more.
Breast cancer is scary, yet treatable, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to promote the types of preventive services that can make all the difference for our patients.
