PEORIA, Ill. – On Saturday, hundreds of breast cancer survivors and their family and friends are walking in Peoria’s Susan G. Komen “More Than Pink” Walk.
The event, formerly “Race For The Cure”, has been going on for 39 years in Peoria.
Though she couldn’t be at the event, WMBD News talked with a local breast cancer survivor…Dr. Fran Armmer, formerly of Bradley University.
Armmer says 16 years ago, she planned to skip her regular mammogram, because her schedule was so full.
But, thankfully, to help a friend who was scared to get her first mammogram, they scheduled appointments for the same time.
“If I had waited, there is no doubt in my mind that the breast cancer diagnosis would have been much more extensive,” Armmer says.
By the way, Armmer’s friend’s mammogram came back negative.
Armmer suggests sitting down with your doctor to determine when and how often you need a mammogram.
Depending on your family history, you may need to start getting mammograms before 40, which is now the recommended age for a first mammogram from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
The USPSTF says after that, women who are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years until age 74. That recommendation does not apply to women (or men) with a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
To learn more from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Komen Memorial Affiliate in Peoria, click HERE.
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