The Salem VA Health Care System encourages women Veterans to get screened for breast cancer during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Localized breast cancer has a 99 percent survival rate if detected early.
“VA encourages all women Veterans to speak with their health care providers about breast health and get checked and treated for breast cancer,” said Beth Holt Wright, Women Veterans Program Manager. “We recognize that some Veterans may have missed their regularly scheduled mammogram due to COVID-19 and encourage women Veterans to reach out to their local community provider to get one scheduled.”
Breast care resources available through the Salem VA or in partnership with community providers include screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasound and MRI, genetic counseling and testing, cancer treatment and more. VA recommends regular breast cancer screening for women who are 45 years of age and older, though some women may choose to start screening with yearly mammograms as early as age 40. Women should talk with their VA primary care provider team about what is best for them and schedule their mammogram with a community provider.
For more information, call Wright at (540) 982-2463 ext. 3782 or email eleanor.wright@va.gov.
