Kicking Off Breast Cancer Awareness Month

There’s no trick to getting a screening mammogram. The treat is that you’ll know more about your health and how to maintain it. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute and its Breast Health Services team want to help you with information so that you have what you need to stay healthy – for Halloween and everything that comes after it.

Breast cancer screenings are incredibly important because they can detect cancer before signs or symptoms develop. While a screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find the disease in its earliest, most treatable stage. When detected early, breast cancer has a five-year relative survival rate of 99%, according to the American Cancer Society.* 

Here are some screening guidelines:

How often? It’s recommended that individuals born biologically female who are 40 and older get a mammogram once a year.

What if I’m high-risk? Your clinician may advise you to start getting screened sooner. Depending on your family history, they may recommend genetic testing to evaluate your risk further.

Why should I get a mammogram? While mammograms aren’t anyone’s favorite activity, they can detect breast cancer that cannot be felt during self-exams. They can save your life.

Where can I go? To ensure confidence in care, Lehigh Valley Health Network wants patients to know their mammography technologists have vast expertise. They performed more than 140,000 mammograms and breast ultrasounds last year alone.

How do I schedule? Individuals 40 and older can schedule their annual screening mammogram conveniently through MyLVHN after logging in to their account. Here’s how:

• Click the “Visits” icon and then "Schedule an appointment."
• Select "Screening Mammogram" from the list of options and complete the questions.

Oct. 3: 24th Annual Pink Light Walk at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono
The walk, starting at the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at 5:45 p.m., remembers those who died from the disease, supports survivors and helps give others a fighting chance in the future.

Oct. 5: 32nd Annual Women’s 5K Classic Live & Virtual Run/Walk-2024
This enduring race promotes fitness among women, supports women with breast and gynecologic cancers and their families, and contributes funding for local programs and research.

Oct. 7: Ladies Night with Dr. Alfonse and Dr. Sareen/Hosted by Steph Wells, formerly of B104
This live Facebook event is an intimate virtual Q&A about women’s health, featuring surgical oncologist Lori Alfonse, DO, and diagnostic radiologist Priya Sareen, MD. Log on to LVHN's Facebook page to watch at Lehigh Valley Health Network | Facebook.

Oct. 10: Pink Out at Promenade Saucon Valley
At this family event, you can tour the mammography coach, learn about health and nutrition, and enjoy refreshments. There will be face painting and a pink ambulance for the kids.

*Breast Cancer Screening - National Breast Cancer Foundation