October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - a time to highlight the importance of breast cancer screening, including clinical breast exams and mammograms.

About one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and it is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. While a family history of breast cancer increases a woman's risk, most breast cancer occurs in women with no family history of breast cancer at all.

According to Kari Sievert, Wisconsin Well Woman Program Coordinator, "The good news is that breast cancer is treatable. Finding breast cancer at an early stage, gives a woman a much better chance for successful treatment."

Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP), in collaboration with Susan G. Komen for the Cure South Central Wisconsin, provides free breast exams and mammograms to age and income eligible women with little or no insurance. These checkups are available at over 25 local health clinics. In 2011, WWWP served 1204 women in Dane County.

"Signing up for the program is quick and can be completed by phone." said Sievert. "It's a call that just might save your life."

For more information, check the website www.wellwomandanecounty.org or call (608)242-6385.

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NEWS RELEASE
Public Health - Madison & Dane County