Across our community and the entire country this month, we will celebrate the brave women who have done battle with breast cancer. It’s a time of reflection and celebration for many women, as they bond together to celebrate a precious victory and to support causes designed to eradicate the disease. But October can also be a difficult time for some, as we are encouraged to remember friends or loved ones who lost their battle with breast cancer – some of them at a very young age.

But perhaps most importantly, October traditionally provides opportunities to educate millions of women on the importance of screening and prevention. Between 1990 and 2013, the death rate from breast cancer decreased by 37 percent, or nearly a quarter of a million lives. The decrease is certainly due in large part to women declining hormone therapies during and after menopause, but also to aggressive campaigns encouraging women over 40 to be vigilant about mammograms. Today, 67% of women over age 40 report having had a mammogram in the past two years, totaling nearly 39 million mammograms per year. While mammograms aren’t perfect, the digital diagnostic tools of today can detect changes in the breast years before a tumor develops. And statistics tell us that the five-year survival rate is nearly 99% when breast cancer is detected in the early stages.

While recommendations have changed through the years regarding who should get screened and when, for women of average risk, the American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for ages 45-54, and screening every two years for women 55 and up. Different guidelines apply to women at higher risk. A screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages.

Some women are at higher risk of developing breast cancer based on family history, genetic mutations and some prior health conditions and therapies. If you fall into this category, it’s important to talk with your doctor about more aggressive detection measures and whether they’re right for you. Today, Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville offers technologies like digital mammography and computer-aided detection (CAD), giving those who are most vulnerable to this disease the best chance to detect it early and survive.

Of course, it’s vitally important to remember that – like any cancer or other disease – prevention is absolutely the best medicine. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Minimize your risk by following these general rules to supercharge your immune system:

• Keep a healthy weight, with a BMI at or below 24
• Engage in physical exercise at least four hours each week
• Get eight hours of sleep most days – preferably during nighttime hours
• Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day
• Avoid exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer – you can find a detailed list of known carcinogens at the www.Cancer.org website
• Limit exposure to radiation, using X-rays, CT scans and PET scans only when medically necessary
• Before taking any type of hormone replacement or birth control therapy, ask your doctor to ensure you are balancing the risks and benefits
• If possible, breastfeed any children you may have

Our team at Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville looks forward to celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with all the survivors, families and advocates here in our community. To schedule an appointment for your mammogram, call 931-502-1180. If you need to find a physician, visit Tennova.com or call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682).

Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.