8/4/2019 Mammograms save lives

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October approaches, webegin to see a swell of 

 pink, the color of breast cancer awareness. Women are well awareof the issue, but what is themessage we want them to hear? 

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deathin women, second only to lung cancer. This yearin Nassau and Suffolk counties alone 2,376 womenwill be diagnosed and 441 women will die of breastcancer.

Long Island women are more familiar than mostwith the issue of breast cancer. But with all theconfusion over this past year about who should bescreened and how often, it’s important to set therecord straight. If you’re a woman age 40 or older,of average risk for breast cancer, schedule yourannual mammogram. While not perfect, it is thebest way to find breast cancer in its earliest, mosttreatable stage. If your doctor has said you are atincreased risk for breast cancer, you may need to

begin mammography even sooner.

In 1999, when the United States PreventativeServices Task Force (USPSTF) changed its guidelinesto recommend against annual mammography forwomen in their 40’s, the American Cancer Societyreviewed the same scientific reports and additional data the USPSTF did not consider. We came toa different conclusion. The benefits of annual mammography for women age 40 and older outweigh

the risks. So the American Cancer Society continuesto recommend annual mammograms and clinical breast exams for that age group. Mammograms savelives. Ninety-eight percent of women survive cancerwhen it is detected early.

The American Cancer Society acknowledgesthe limitations of mammography. We remaincommitted to finding better tests and currently arefunding a large study to improve the accuracy of mammography. In fact, data shows the technologyused today is better than that used in the studiesin the review, and more modern studies showthat mammography is achieving better results

than those achieved in these early experimental studies that go back as far as the mid-60’s. And asscientists work to make mammography even moreeffective, the American Cancer Society’s medical staff and volunteer experts overwhelmingly believethe benefits of screening women aged 40 to 49outweigh its limitations.

So, this October, when you see somethingencased in pink, remember those who have battledbreast cancer, and remember to schedule yourannual mammogram. If you are a woman withlittle or no health insurance, contact the AmericanCancer Society at 1.800.227.2345 to learn how toaccess a free or low cost mammogram.

Dr. Maureen Killackey is Chief Medical Officer of 

the American Cancer Society of New York and New 

  Jersey, and Deputy Physician-in-Chief and Medical

Director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Regional Care

Network.

In2001, my life changed forever. My moth-er, the woman who kissed my bruises as

a child, made sure we all had a hot meal, andhelped us grow into the adults we are now,passed away from breast cancer. When yourloved one is diagnosed with cancer you havea few choices on how you plan to deal with it.

I decided that I was going to take my moth-

er’s cancer experience and fight back againstthe disease that stole her life. Shortly after herpassing, I became involved with the AmericanCancer Society’s Making Strides Against BreastCancer Walk at Jones Beach State Park. When Iarrived at Jones Beach with my family for ourfirst Making Strides walk, I was overwhelmed bythe amount of people on the boardwalk. It wasso early on a Sunday morning. What made all of these people come out to the beach? Did theyall lose someone? Were they celebrating their

survivorship? Did they all decide to fight backtoday?The experience made me determined to do

more. The following year I knew I needed togo bigger, so I asked my coworkers from LongIsland MacArthur Airport to join me. We havewalked together now for the past 8 years. AsI walk the beach each year, I notice children

walking with t-shirts in honor or memory of their young mothers, or other men walking fortheir wives and their mothers. There is so muchmore work to do.

This year, I became a Making Strides AgainstBreast Cancer Pacesetter by raising more than$2,500. To meet and surpass this goal, I ar-ranged a series of fundraising events. These

included a “Dine to Donate” fundraiser, a BBQat the airport with grilling by “The B-B-Q Breth-ren”, and a sunset cruise aboard The LaurenKristy. With the help of Team LIMA (Long IslandMacArthur Airport) I hope to continue to raiseadditional funds for the American Cancer Soci-ety and inspire hope for people facing breastcancer.

If you want to do something really powerful this year, join me at the Making Strides walk—bring your family, friends, and coworkers. Look

for me, I am a proud volunteer. I will be atboth Long Island Strides walks, October 2nd atDowling College, Brookhaven Campus and Octo-ber 16th, at Jones Beach State Park. Walk withme... for my mom and others for whom a curedid not come soon enough, and for all of thesurvivors who have battled and won. Help bringus one step closer to a cure.

Annual Mammograms Save Lives

 American Cancer Society of New York & New Jersey 

Chief Medical Officer,Dr. Maureen Killackey 

Why I walk – Steve Russell

 Steve Russell (in green)