October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is asking women to prioritize screenings to improve health outcomes.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 8,900 new cases of breast cancer will be reported in Michigan in 2022. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer for Michigan women, and it’s also estimated to cause 1,390 deaths this year.
MDHHS has two screening programs available for eligible individuals, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program, and the WISEWOMAN Program. Both include free health screenings.
Locally, breast cancer screenings can be scheduled at both McLaren Port Huron and Lake Huron Medical Center through a patient’s primary care physician, or at the People’s Clinic for Better Health for those who are uninsured or on Medicaid.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for MDHHS, said, “Early detection through breast cancer screening is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent breast cancer deaths. Cancer screening can pick up early signs of disease, at stages when treatment is much more effective. This increases the chances of survival and can lower the cost of care.”
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
