October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "You're designed to beat this; now get it done," said Kimberly Farmer, a survivor.A new report by the American Cancer Society reveals breast cancer deaths have fallen by 44% compared to 35 years ago, saving nearly 520,000 lives.As Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, four-year survivor Farmer has dedicated her life to being a voice for women. "To really express the importance of taking time to care for yourself, that's good to get your annual checkups, your mammograms, self-examinations. Don't ignore those things," said Farmer.Farmer says she was getting ready for work one morning in 2022 when she felt a lump in her breast. She immediately contacted her doctor and was told she had Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer. Farmer would then prepare to undergo surgery in her left breast the next week, supported by her daughter and best friend. With lower death rates being a major milestone in the fight against breast cancer, Farmer says it's the result of early detection that should encourage all women to get annual mammograms. The steepest rise in diagnoses has been in women under 50. In April, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its guidelines, recommending that women at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years starting at age 40.The American Cancer Society launched a study called "Voices of Black Women."It's aimed at researching younger Black women in the U.S. who have not been diagnosed with cancer to try and better understand their risk and cancer outcomes.
"You're designed to beat this; now get it done," said Kimberly Farmer, a survivor.
A new report by the American Cancer Society reveals breast cancer deaths have fallen by 44% compared to 35 years ago, saving nearly 520,000 lives.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, four-year survivor Farmer has dedicated her life to being a voice for women.
"To really express the importance of taking time to care for yourself, that's good to get your annual checkups, your mammograms, self-examinations. Don't ignore those things," said Farmer.
Farmer says she was getting ready for work one morning in 2022 when she felt a lump in her breast. She immediately contacted her doctor and was told she had Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer.
Farmer would then prepare to undergo surgery in her left breast the next week, supported by her daughter and best friend.
With lower death rates being a major milestone in the fight against breast cancer, Farmer says it's the result of early detection that should encourage all women to get annual mammograms.
The steepest rise in diagnoses has been in women under 50.
In April, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its guidelines, recommending that women at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years starting at age 40.
The American Cancer Society launched a study called "Voices of Black Women."
It's aimed at researching younger Black women in the U.S. who have not been diagnosed with cancer to try and better understand their risk and cancer outcomes.