Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker signed a proclamation declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation states that because October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and approximately 10,160 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, the city urges women to take precautions to prevent the disease.
According to HSHS St. Anthony’s, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer for women. Of those diagnosed with the disease this year, around 1,660 will die, according to the American Cancer Society. By following regular screening recommendations, women can reduce the number of those who die from breast cancer. Those recommendations include routine mammography, regular examinations by a physician, and monthly self-examinations. The five-year survival rate is 99 percent for women who catch the disease in the earliest stages.
Information about screening options is available at St. Anthony’s Women’s Wellness Center at 217-347-1601 or on their website here!