40 THE QUEENS COURIER • BREAST CANCER AWARENESS • OCTOBER 4, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
breast cancer awareness
Protect yourself against breast cancer by getting screened
BY EMMA MILLER
Th ere are many ways that women can reduce their
risk of contracting breast cancer.
Th e NYC Health + Hospitals recommends that all
women ages 50 to 74 have a mammogram every two
years. Th e exams are considered to be the best way
to detect breast cancer in its early stages.
Women ages 40 to 49 and older than 74 should
talk to their doctor about whether they should
schedule regular screenings.
Some ways women can reduce their risk of breast
cancer are by exercising regularly, watching their
weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption
and breastfeeding their children. Women should
also ask their doctor about the risks of hormone
replacement therapy or birth control and limit their
exposure to radiation from medical testing like
X-rays and CT scans.
Not all women with breast cancer have symptoms,
but some warning signs are new lumps, swelling,
thickening, dimpling, redness or fl aky skin and pain.
Women who experience any of these should talk to
their doctor about scheduling a mammogram to
test for breast cancer. Even women who do not have
insurance may be able to get a mammogram for little
or no cost through NYC Health + Hospitals aft er
talking to one of their fi nancial counselors.
NYC Health + Hospitals off ers mammograms at its
two locations in Queens: Elmhurst Hospital, 79-01
Broadway (718-334-2424) and Queens Hospital,
82-68 164th St. (718-883-3000). More information
is available online at https://www.nychealthandhospitals.
org/services/breast-health/.
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