October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the U.S. – with the most common being skin cancer – according to both the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 339,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, with nearly 288,000 of those cases being invasive breast cancer. And more than 43,000 U.S. women will die of breast cancer this year – the second leading cause of cancer death in women, behind only lung cancer. 

Dow Credit Union wants you to know how much we care about our members and the community at large, so we’re taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of breast health, both in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as our cause for the Michigan Credit Union League’s CU Kind Day 2022. We hope you’ll find this information useful and share it with others.

Breast health basics

According to the American Cancer Society’s Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer, women ages 40 to 44 “should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (X-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so,” and women ages 45 to 54 should have a mammogram annually. After age 55, the frequency can be reduced to every two years if desired, and “screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.”

Breast cancer resources

If you’re already fighting breast cancer, here are some resources that may be able to help:

• Cancer Services of Midland has a mission of providing “personal and compassionate support to cancer patients and their caregivers.” The organization focuses on “meeting basic, non-medical needs in ways that help people reduce stress and stay strong throughout the cancer journey. Services are free and apply to all income levels.”
• Pardee Cancer Treatment Fund serves Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella and Midland counties, providing financial support for patients undergoing cancer treatment. The organization offers reimbursement for a variety of cancer-related expenses, including cancer drugs or treatments; doctor, hospital, lab or X-ray bills associated with cancer treatment; supplies, prosthesis, wigs and related items; and more.
• The Pink Fund is based in metro Detroit and “provides financial support to help meet basic needs, decrease stress levels, and allow breast cancer patients in active treatment to focus on healing while improving survivorship outcomes.” The organization serves cancer patients across the U.S., and its 90-day grant program helps participants “meet their critical expenses for housing, transportation, utilities and insurance.”