HHSC encourages preventive care during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – An estimated 20,319 women in Texas were diagnosed with breast cancer last year, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. An estimated 3,471 Texas women died from the disease, making it the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the state, outpaced only by lung cancer.Routine breast cancer screenings are the best method to catch cancer early, when it’s easier to treat and survival rates are higher, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Related Stories October is the ideal time for preventive care and screenings for women during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.Women ages 40 to 74 should get a mammogram once every two years, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.“We encourage all women to talk with their doctors about breast cancer screening because it can save your life,” said Faith Sandberg-Rodriguez, associate commissioner of Family Clinical Services for HHSC. “The idea that you or someone you know and love might have cancer is scary, but early detection means the disease is easier to treat. Living a healthy life post-cancer is possible.”The HHSC Breast and Cervical...