Source: PR Log
Michelina DeSanti, president of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS), encourages a continuation of breast cancer awareness beyond the confines of the month of October.\
“National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an effective way to raise awareness about breast cancer, and has been extremely successful in educating about and promoting early detection,” Dr. DeSanti comments, “But since breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women, with approximately 1-in-8 women in the U.S. being diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives, NJAOPS as an organization feels that the issue should remain on the minds of all women throughout the year. We have a unique opportunity as a patient-centered organization to provide additional focus and energies to this important effort.”
With early screenings and intervention, many women can survive breast cancer. A mammogram can help find breast cancer early when treatment is significantly easier. NJAOPS, through its leadership and many practicing members throughout New Jersey, encourages spreading the word about mammograms and educating communities, organizations, families, and individuals on how to get involved.
Dr. DeSanti is using this opportunity to spread the word about steps both patients and providers can take to detect breast cancer early. “There are a number of simple steps that we can encourage health care providers to take, such as asking doctors and nurses to speak to women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer, or encouraging women of all ages to talk with their doctors about when to start getting mammograms.”
American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) are both recommending that yearly breast cancer screenings should begin at 40, and continue thereafter. Dr. DeSanti agrees with these organizations, as the majority of breast cancer diagnoses (75-90%) are found in women who are not high risk and therefore she firmly advocates that annual screening is important for all women 40 years and older.
NJAOPS will make a special effort throughout the year to draw significant focus on these issues, and continue to educate all of its members to raise awareness and draw attention to early detection for their patients. NJAOPS offers many educational events throughout the year at NJAOPS county society dinner meetings held throughout the state. Many of these events feature programs on women’s health — with many including Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for participating. There are also opportunities for non-members, interns and medical doctors (MDs) to attend specific events.
NJAOPS will also be providing online CME activities focused on women’s health, archived from their recent AROC conference (Atlantic Regional Osteopathic Convention) held in Atlantic City this year.