Greenville, SC, October 1, 2004 - Oncologists at CancerCenters of the Carolinas say some women overlook one of the most important factors in their health - annual mammograms.

Doctors today have a wide array of therapies to treat breast cancer, if it is detected early. But despite the numerous studies showing that mammograms are the best way to determine if cancer is present in the breast, some women put off seeing a doctor.

And some who have an initial, or baseline, mammogram don't go back for further screening, even though experts recommend annual mammograms for women age 40 and up.
Mammograms can detect even the smallest tumor, long before it develops into a telltale lump that a woman can feel during self-examination. That early detection can make all the difference in the treatment - and cure - of breast cancer.

An annual mammogram is a necessity for ensuring that cancer is caught early enough for treatment to be optimal. And when it is, the survival rates are very, very good. There are millions of breast cancer survivors in our country, women who are living proof that early detection saves lives.
That's why the health-care community and CancerCenters of the Carolinas observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October. Our goal is to help improve recognition of early detection and the importance of yearly screening, including mammograms.

There have been some dramatic advances in the treatment of breast cancer in recent years - everything from improved surgical techniques to hormone therapy and enhanced radiation and chemotherapy options. Women with early-stage breast cancer often have a number of available treatment options, including those that spare healthy breast tissue. A breast cancer diagnosis today does not necessarily mean a need for mastectomy, as it once did. There are many excellent treatment options for local control of the breast and eradication of disease that may have spread to the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body. We can win the fight against breast cancer if we have time to use the tools and therapies available to us.

Women often stay away from the doctor because of fear, cost or their busy routines, but seeing your physician and having a mammogram just may save your life.

Oncologists at CancerCenters of the Carolinas recommend that women contact their primary-care physician or gynecologist for more information and to schedule a mammogram.

About CancerCenters of the Carolinas

CancerCenters of the Carolinas (CCC) is a community-based, physician-owned practice with 21 board-certified oncologists practicing in 9 locations in the Upstate of South Carolina. CCC is the Upstate's largest cancer care group treating over 5,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients annually. CCC specializes in medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, transplantation and clinical research. CCC is a National Cancer Institute grant recipient and is home to South Carolina's first FACT accredited Stem Cell Transplant Program. CCC is an affiliate of US Oncology, Inc., the world's largest health care network dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment and research. US Oncology's network includes more than 850 physicians in 32 states and provides comprehensive outpatient cancer care for approximately 15% of the nation's newly diagnosed cancer patients.