Response minimizes exposure, frees up needed health capacity to deal with COVID-19
Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, today suggested healthy women of average risk delay routine breast cancer screening until later this year. The organization stressed that people who are displaying warning signs for breast cancer should contact their health provider to determine their need for diagnostic imaging. Komen made the recommendation to minimize exposure to and potential spreading of COVID-19 and to help support the health care system’s need to focus scarce health care capacity and resources on managing the pandemic and those most in need of support.
“As our health care system across the country begins to feel the strain from dealing with COVID-19, we all share a responsibility to help stem the spread and to support our health care providers as they focus on those most in need of care,” said Komen’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. George Sledge, Jr. M.D., Professor of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University. “Now is the time for doctors to delay routine screenings for healthy people who are not displaying warning signs of breast cancer. This also means it is critically important for people to know what is normal for them, and to report to their health care provider any changes so that necessary care can be provided.”
Komen noted that the warning signs for breast cancer are not the same for all women. The most common signs are changes to the look or feel of the breast. Visit komen.org to learn more about the warning signs for breast cancer. See a doctor if you notice any change in your breast.
