Miami-Dade County residents continue to benefit from the services of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP). This program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), offers free Pap smears, clinical breast exams, mammograms, diagnostic exams, education, and case management to women who are 50-64 who meet the financial eligibility requirements. Women who are diagnosed with cancer through the program are provided treatment through the Mary Brogan Medicaid Treatment Act. From July 1st, 2011 through June 29th, 2012, BCCEDP screened 2,227 women.October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Throughout the month of October, BCCEDP will support increasing awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection. To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 1st, the Miami-Dade County Health Department Women’s Health & Preventive Services will host an employee awareness event at the Center for Excellence. At this event, we will raise awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Staff will be provided with education materials, quizzes, testimonials from breast cancer survivors, raffles, door prizes and refreshments. During this event, BCCEDP will also recreate the Tree of Life, which commemorates family members and friends who have battled breast cancer. The tree will be displayed publicly at the Center for Excellence during the month of October.
The second event will be a Screening Day on October 13. The event is in partnership with the Jackson Health Systems Taylor Breast Health Center and will be held at the Miami-Dade County Health Department West Perrine Center. Qualifying women will be provided with pap smears, clinical breast exams, screening mammograms and other health screenings such as blood pressure, etc.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Breast cancer incidence is lower in black women than in Caucasian women, however, breast cancer mortality is 39% higher in blacks than in their Caucasian counterparts.
According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2012, an estimated 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women and 2,190 among men, as well as an estimated 57,650 additional cases of in-situ breast cancer. Furthermore, approximately 39,920 women and 410 males are expected to die from breast cancer.
A woman’s best overall preventive strategy is to reduce her own risk factors as much as possible by avoiding weight gain and obesity, engaging in regular physical activities, minimizing alcohol, tobacco intake and getting regular screenings.
The Best Protection is Early Detection.
