Senator Breslin Urges New Yorkers to Use Mother’s Day as a Reminder to Schedule Annual Mammograms

(Albany, NY) New York State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-Delmar) reminds New Yorkers that May 8th is Mother’s Day, and is encouraging everyone to celebrate and honor our mothers by scheduling an annual mammogram to protect their health and well-being.

“Mother’s Day is more than just a holiday. It’s a day to show someone how much you really care about protecting women’s health,” said Senator Breslin. “Preventative screenings can make all of the difference in the battle against breast cancer. People should not feel uncomfortable discussing the need for routine mammograms because a regular exam could make all the difference. I hope people will not only schedule for themselves, but take their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends with them.”

In the United States, 1 of every 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. Rates have been declining, however, as from 1999 to 2006, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by about 2% per year. This is largely in part to increased awareness and testing.

Though 95% of diagnoses are in women aged 40 and up, younger women are also prone to this disease. Additionally, roughly 2,000 men are diagnosed annually.

“We want to see breast cancer rates continue to decline, and the best way for that to happen is to get a check up, every year. Women are busy, and using a day like Mother’s Day as a reminder to get a mammogram is a great way to stay healthy” Senator Breslin noted.

Anyone wishing to learn more about breast cancer and where to get a mammogram can call the Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support program at 1 (800) 877-8077 or visit their website at www.adelphi.edu/nysbreastcancer, or visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure at www.komen.org.

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