October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Mobile County Health Department to recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with free clinical breast exams

In conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Mobile County Health Department will offer free clinical breast examinations from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on the following dates:

 Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Semmes Clinic, 3810 Wulff Rd. E.
 Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Citronelle Clinic, 19250 N. Mobile Ct.
 Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Downtown Clinic, 251 N. Bayou St.
 Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Eight Mile Clinic, 4555 St. Stephens Rd.

Nurse practitioners will conduct examinations for women age 40 or older and for women under 40 if they are experiencing breast problems. Vouchers for free mammograms will be available for participants who meet certain requirements.

Citing a report from the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer, says breast cancer is the most common cancer in women aside from skin cancer. The report, he says, predicts there will be 192,370 new cases of breast cancer in women in the United States this year. Of these, an estimated 40,170 will die from the disease.

“Early detection is critical to successfully treating breast cancer,” Dr. Eichold says. “We are strongly encouraging women to take advantage of the free breast examinations we are offering.”

For more information, call 690-8957 or 694-3984.
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Breast cancer’s most common risk factors

•Gender: The highest risk factor for breast cancer is being female; the disease is about 100 times more common among women.
•Age: The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman grows older. The risk is especially high for women age 60 and older. Breast cancer is uncommon in women younger than age 35 although it does occur. There is some evidence to suggest young African American women are at greater risk for breast cancer than young Caucasian women.
•Personal History: Women who have had breast cancer and women with a history of breast disease (not
cancer, but a condition that may predispose them to cancer) may develop it again.