National Mammography Day

I’m a sucker for strange “days,” especially when there’s a useful point to them. This Friday, Oct. 21, is National Mammography Day, which encourages women to make their annual appointment for a mammogram.

According to BreastCancer.org, the early detection provided by mammograms reduces the risk of death from breast cancer by 35 percent in women over 50 and 25-30 percent in women age 40-50.

Who should get mammograms? It’s generally recommended that all women above the age of 40 get screened annually. If you have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer or have had radiation treatment to your chest, talk to your doctor about starting mammograms earlier.

And don’t be afraid! It’s unpleasant, yes, but a small price to pay if it saves your life!