Self-Sufficiency to offer free mammograms in September

Sussex County - According to American Cancer Society estimates, 212,900 U.S. women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year. Of those women currently living with breast cancer in this country, approximately 40,970 will not survive the year. Chances of a woman developing invasive breast cancer are one-in-eight. Breast cancer death rates are declining due to early detection methods, namely mammography. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, free mammograms will be offered to clients of Newton-based Project Self-Sufficiency and a limited number of the general public. Through a grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation-North Jersey Affiliate, professionals from Multi-Diagnostics Services, Inc. will perform the procedures on women over the age of 40 who have not received a mammogram in the past year. In breast cancer detection, mammograms have an 85-90 percent accuracy rate and may even detect breast cancers up to two years before they can be felt through clinical or self-breast exam. In the United States, there are slightly more than two million women who have either been diagnosed with or treated for breast cancer. For women 40-59 years of age, it is the leading cause of cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society outlines three steps to early detection that all women should follow. Mammograms should be done every year after the age of 40. However, if there is a history of breast cancer in your family, you may need to start having mammograms earlier, starting at age 35. Breast self-exams should be done every month starting at the age of 20. Clinical breast exams should be given every year starting at the age of 20. Combining these three methods gives women the best chance of detecting breast cancer at its earliest stages. In fact, the survival rate for women who detected breast cancer in its earliest stages is over 95 percent. On Sept. 29, participants will, in addition to receiving a free mammogram, be given instruction in performing breast self-exams through the use of a step-by-step video. In addition, free education materials on breast health and breast cancer will be distributed, as well as information on services offered for women’s health throughout Sussex County. Those wishing to take advantage of the offer must make an appointment by calling 973-383-5129.