Okay, mamas, pop quiz: Who is the most important person in your life? Nope. It's not your kids, your partner, your parents, or the Amazon delivery person. It's YOU. What's more, you are probably the most important person in the lives of all the people just mentioned (with the possible exception of the delivery person). So, why aren't you taking care of the one person whom so many people rely on to take good care of them?
Since March 2020, the doctors at Englewood Health have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of women scheduling diagnostic or preventative procedures, especially mammograms. On the one hand, it's understandable. It's been quite a year and, between our increased responsibilities and our fear of contracting COVID-19, it's been easy to push that mammogram to the bottom of the to-do list. But, on the other hand, finding breast cancer in its earliest stages is critical. Early-stage breast cancer is far more treatable, and outcomes for women who don't wait to get screened are much better. Extending the time between screenings from 12 months to 18 months can have a significant impact on your treatment if breast cancer is ultimately detected.
So, if you're a woman or someone who was gendered female at birth, who has been putting yourself last, now is the time to make yourself and your health a priority. Englewood Health has extensive safe care protocols in place that will keep you and your family protected. And if you get the news you're dreading, Englewood Health physicians like Mindy Goldfischer, MD, chief of breast imaging at The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center, and Violet Merle McIntosh, MD, chief of breast surgery, along with their talented, compassionate teams, will be with you every step of the way.
If you love a woman in your life, encourage her to put herself front and center, at least for the length of her screening. Ask her to make the appointment, then pitch in and do what you can to help her keep it. Mammograms don't take long and your loved one will be back to running the world before dinner. Plus, these days, a large majority of women with early-stage breast cancer are cured. Another great reason for the women in your life to adhere to annual, routine screening mammography.
Mammogram appointments are available now. Book online or call 201-894-3622, and the breast imaging team will find a time that works for you. You're too important to too many people to take any chances with your health.
