According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Aside from skin cancer, it’s the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is serious, but has a 5-year relative survival rate of 99% when caught in the earliest stage.[1] That’s why early detection and screening is so important.
In Somerset County, the lead agency of the NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection Program (NJCEED) is Zufall Health Center’s Somerville site. The program connects Somerset County residents to screening and diagnostic services for breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers. For more information, visit their website here.
It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, which can include:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
- Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
- Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
- Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
- Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood
- Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Pain in the breast [2]
Women should also perform a breast self-examination once a month to check for any lumps or changes in the breasts. If you don’t know how to do that, the National Breast Cancer Foundation provides steps here.
