Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Detection During a Pandemic

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the importance of personal and public health. That’s true for the millions of people the coronavirus has affected, but the struggle for everyday health and wellness extends beyond the pandemic. The American Cancer Society recorded nearly 300,000 new breast cancer cases in 2020.

Every October, our country takes a moment to recognize and draw attention to those cases and the millions of breast cancer survivors. As the fight against the coronavirus continues, telling their stories and keeping our bodies’ overall health in mind as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month has never been more critical.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death among American women. The current risk for a woman in the US to develop breast cancer sometime in her life is roughly 13%. That means one in eight women born today will develop breast cancer. More than making sure they won’t have to battle it alone, especially during one of the most frightening public health climates in living memory, it’s the duty of the entire medical community to instead help them battle it early.

Why Awareness Is No Longer Enough

Beyond raising money and awareness this year, we can devote ourselves even more towards education and engagement. While it’s true that awareness plays a huge role in early detection, it’s the person’s engagement in their healthcare that drives them to reach out to their doctors and take the early proactive steps.

Ensuring patients know they can safely receive mammograms without risking exposure to the coronavirus, easing their fears and working with them to make the process as easy and safe as possible will go a long way. The more doctors who help get the word out, the better. 2020 is a painful and costly reminder that we can all take greater initiative, acting early to protect general health.

Pushing Early Detection Closer to Patients

The majority of breast cancer deaths occur in women diagnosed in late stages, mainly due to the lack of early detection and access to health services common in low and middle-income communities. It’s never as simple as saying, “Go get your annual breast check-up. It will save your life”. It’s going to require healthcare practitioners to actively reach out to women and make access to detection services more convenient and safe.

One of the most impactful moves your organization can do to connect with potential patients is to go online. It’s where patients are, and it’s where the awareness campaign can have the most significant reach. Virtual communication is also one of the safest ways to connect with patients without the risk of coronavirus exposure.

An online presence helps your practice engage in breast cancer awareness, makes you more visible to patients, and spreads patient education. Build a practice website if you don’t have one already, and provide a platform for patients to know more about how you can help. On top of that, you can make it easier for them to book appointments through an online booking solution and help them check-in easier.