October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Christian County Health Department is urging people to get screenings to catch it early.
Amanda Bassingthwaite with the department says breast cancer is one cancer that people can find early and increase their chances of survival.
She says women over 40 or 50 years of age need to get regular screenings, and she warns that although it’s less common, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Bassingthwaite says only about 15 percent of breast cancer cases are hereditary, so it’s important that everyone get those screenings. It also possible to do self-screenings, and more information about how to correctly do so can be found online here.
The health department can also provide women’s health services to those who qualify, so Bassingthwaite says to not let financial situations keep you from getting important screenings.