Photo: St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids
(Cedar Rapids, IA) -- Unity Point Health-St Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids is lighting up its skywalks pink, for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Skywalks and the Nassif Pavilion lights are pink.
The hospital's published a message on its social media pages, urging patients to get yearly screenings to promote early detection of breast cancer.
From Unity Point St. Luke's:
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States there are about 240,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women and about 2,100 in men. About 42,000 women and 500 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer. Black women have a higher rate of death from breast cancer than all other women. Breast cancer is second most common cancer for women in the U.S. Signs of breast cancer don’t always start with a lump and can also show up as subtle changes in the breast tissue.
Breast cancer survival rates have been steadily increasing over the years due to awareness, earlier detection and advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of the cancer. If you notice any lumps or changes to your breast, talk to your doctor. Most women of average risk will start mammogram screening at age 40. Screening mammograms are the best tool for early detection of breast cancer, ask your doctor for a referral for a mammogram and to schedule visit
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2023. An estimated 43,700 women will die from breast cancer in 2023 as well.
The Iowa Department of Public Health reports in 2020, 2,700 women in Iowa were diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 390 died from the illness. Only lung cancer causes more cancer deaths among women.
The Iowa Department of Public Health lists three important methods that can detect breast cancer:
- Having a mammogram every year
- Having a clinical breast exam by your healthcare provider
- Knowing your normal and reporting changes to your healthcare provider