Nation’s Leading Women’s Health Care Provider and Advocate Encourages Women to Take Control of Their Health During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Tuesday Twitter Town Hall on #BetterBreastHealth
New York, N.Y.–(ENEWSPF)–October 8, 2012. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading women’s health care provider and advocate, is encouraging women under 40 to take control of their breast health — and has released a new video today to help educate young women on what to do if they notice a change in their breasts.
“Too often women under 40 dismiss a lump as something that does not need attention, or the fear of what an abnormality could be becomes paralyzing,” said Dr. Deborah Nucatola, senior director of medical services, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Our goal is to break down those myths and fears, and provide women with more information so that they can be their own best breast expert. This video helps do that.”
Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 9 at 1 p.m. EST, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Dr. Nucatola and Dr. Mark Pearlman, a preeminent breast cancer expert and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan, will be leading a Twitter Town Hall on breast health as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The online conversation will allow individuals to ask questions by using the hash tag #betterbreasthealth or mentioning @PPFAQ.
In addition, Planned Parenthood released a video last week featuring Gabrielle Union, star of the new BET drama Being Mary Jane and Planned Parenthood breast health advocate, discussing the need for women to move beyond their fear when they find an abnormality in their breast.
“Fear is what prevented my dear friend Kristen from getting a breast abnormality checked out — and that fear cost Kristen her life,” said Union. “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to take action and educate ourselves and our friends, so that if something doesn’t feel right, you talk to a doctor or nurse as soon as possible.”
Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses play a unique role in delivering health care to young women, as 94 percent of Planned Parenthood patients are under the age of 40 — and help young women understand the screening that’s best for them as well as the factors that can reduce their breast cancer risk — including getting regular exercise and limiting alcohol intake.
Clinical breast exams are the first line of defense for providers in detecting breast cancer in most young women. Each year, Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses provide nearly 750,000 breast exams. Like most ob/gyns and primary care physicians, if a Planned Parenthood health care provider finds an abnormality during an exam, the patient is referred to a breast specialist for further examination, which may include diagnostic tests, like an ultrasound or biopsy. Planned Parenthood’s newly established diagnostic grant program helps to cover the costs of these tests for patients when possible, as the tests can be costly, especially for uninsured and low-income women.
One in five women in America has turned to Planned Parenthood at some point in her life for health care. To date, 47 Planned Parenthood affiliates have applied for and received funding to expand their breast health services to cover the costs of diagnostic follow up care. To learn more, go to plannedparenthood.org/breast-health.
View the breast health education video here.
View the Gabrielle Union video here.
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate nearly 800 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.
Source: http://www.plannedparenthood.org
