October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Since 1990, more and more women have been surviving breast cancer, primarily because of early detection through mammography and advances in treatment. However, breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer.
Mammograms can find breast cancers earlier, when they are easier to treat and the chances of survival are higher. That's why the American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms and breast exams for women 40 and older.
And remember that in addition to getting a yearly mammogram, there are other steps women can take to reduce their risk of breast cancer:
- Eat a healthy diet to help control weight, since being overweight or obese may raise breast cancer risk.
- Get regular physical activity. The American Cancer Society recommends 30 minutes a day, 5 or more days a week. Forty-five to 60 minutes a day is even better for reducing breast cancer risk.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than 1 drink per day. Alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
And be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts or have any other concerns. That conversation could save your life.
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, there is another conversation that just might save your life: a conversation with a Best Doctors® Member Advocate.
Mary called and spoke to a Best Doctors advocate after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, because she was feeling anxious about the intense chemotherapy treatment her doctor had recommended. Once Mary’s complete medical files were received by Best Doctors, her medical records were reviewed by a cancer specialist expert from the Best Doctors database. The expert found that Mary’s original tests had been misread and the chemotherapy prescribed for her cancer would be ineffective.
Best Doctors then provided Mary and her treating physician with a report that recommended a change in chemotherapy treatment based on the accurate test results. Now Mary is receiving the correct treatment for her cancer and is on the road to recovery. Her call to Best Doctors may have saved her life.
Best Doctors is available to our employees and their covered dependents who are currently enrolled in a Northrop Grumman Health Plan medical option. This confidential program is included in the cost of your medical plan - you do not pay any additional cost.
For more information about the Best Doctors program please visit our Best Doctors page, or call Best Doctors at 1-866-904-0910.