HANCOCK -- October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Portage Health Hospital is teaming up with the Marquette General Cancer Center, and they're offering a free breast cancer clinic.
"The purpose of today's clinic is for individuals who are curious or concerned about their risk for breast cancer to come learn a little bit more about it based on their personal and family history," said Rebecca MacFalda, genetic counselor.
When it comes to women who have a family history of breast cancer they meet with a genetic counselor like Rebecca.
"What I would do is get more detailed history on her brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and get a more detailed picture of what her family actually looks like to help assess that there could be something heredity going on," MacFalda said.
About one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. That's why experts say it’s important to get breast exams, and if you’re over the age of 40, you should get a mammogram every one to two years. Experts also recommend self breast exams.
"There are several ways of performing a self breast examination. You can either do it in the shower or before awakening in the morning out of bed, laying flat on your back. Typically if you do it in the shower or anyway that you do it, you just need to do it the same way on a monthly basis," said Carole Spickerman, nurse practitioner.
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States and experts say regular screening tests are one of the best ways to lower a woman's risk.
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