KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Did you know breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second-most common cancer overall? That’s according to the Susan G. Komen organization.
Saturday thousands of girl soccer players wore pink to help kick out the deadly disease. Even the soccer balls, flags and some referee jerseys were pink.
“I think people when they see pink and they see that pink ribbon they think oh breast cancer and I think that symbol’s been at the front of everyone’s mind,” said Becky Dowden, an athletic trainer with HCA Midwest Health.
Dr. Anne Kobbermann, M.D. is a breast surgical oncologist with HCA Midwest Health.
She said the color pink is a way to send a visual reminder that early screening saves lives.
“Raising awareness in the community is so important because women frequently get used to taking care of everybody else, and we need to remind them that it’s time to take care of themselves,” she said.
Dr. Kobbermann said annual mammograms and self-checks are the key to survival.
“The current screening recommendations are monthly self-breast exams and that starts anywhere around age 20 on, yearly clinical breast exams, that can be from a physician or nurse practitioner but somebody that’s examining you once a year and yearly mammograms starting at age 40,” Kobbermann said.
The Susan G. Komen organization estimates more than 232,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. To learn more visit http://ww5.komen.org/AboutUs/AboutUs.html