TULSA - As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues, it's important time to focus on ways to stay on top of your health.
Friday is also National Mammography Day and doctors are urging women to get screened.
Most everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer as it affects more than 10 percent of women.
One in three women have never had a mammography, that’s according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Health professionals say getting screened is the key to early prevention, but it’s important to talk to your doctor about when to start screening.
Some recommend starting at 40 years of age, while others suggest 45.
Dr. Tulipana, Chief of Staff at Tulsa's Cancer Treatment Centers of America, said the reason women are hesitant is because they feel a mixture of fear and nerves getting in front of the mammography machine.
“People are afraid that they might find something that’s abnormal," said Dr. Tulipana. "People think, oh cancer won’t happen to me. It’s really important to know that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their life.”
Oklahoma is currently ranked as the 10th worst state for meeting the American Cancer Society mammogram recommendations.
It also says women who are at a higher risk for breast cancer will need to begin screening earlier and it only takes about 30 minutes to do.
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