Dignity Health Sacramento & Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation Hold Free Breast Cancer Screenings
Dignity Health Sacramento and Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation recently held three separate breast cancer screening events in the Sacramento area. On September 29, an event was held at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Carmichael. On September 30, an event was held at Elk Grove City Council Chambers in Elk Grove. On October 1, an event was held at Elica North Highlands in North Highlands.
Cancer Facts & Statistics
In 2022, according to the American Cancer Society, approximately 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, 51,400 cases of DCIS will be diagnosed among US women, and 43,250 women will die from breast cancer. Source: ACS Cancer
Types of Cancer
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the presence of abnormal cells inside a milk duct in the breast. DCIS is considered the earliest form of breast cancer. DCIS is noninvasive, meaning it hasn’t spread out of the milk duct and has a low risk of becoming invasive. Metastatic Cancer occurs when pieces of a tumor break away an migrate to other parts of the body. The types of cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive or infiltrating ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and triple negative breast cancer. Invasive (or infiltrating) breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue. People usually refer to two types, invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of invasive breast cancer. In this cancer the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors (ER or PR). They also don’t make any or too much of the protein called HER2. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive type of invasive breast cancer in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin. However, this is a really rare cancer. Source: American Cancer Society
Courtney Quinn, the Executive Director of Albie Aware spoke to us about the event.
“I’m a breast cancer survivor myself. And so I know what these women go through. And I am so glad we can be a part of that effort to get more women diagnosed. The more people who get diagnosed with breast cancer earlier, the more lives can be saved.”
Courtney Quinn, Executive DIrector of Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation
Advertisement
The event hit home to me, Jacqueline “Jax” Cheung, Editor-In-Chief of Elk Grove Tribune myself.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer by Dr. Jennifer Overbey of Dignity Health during a routine annual exam. She felt a lump in my breast and sent me to go get a mammogram. It was the biggest shock of my life. But I am grateful. I am grateful to Dr. Overbey for diagnosing my cancer. I am grateful for the incredible cancer treatment I got from Dignity Health. And I am grateful that now I can help spread the word about these awesome free breast cancer screenings. They are free! I know, it’s a pain to go through with it. But please go get screened or take advantage of free screenings like this. Do it for yourself, your family, and friends.”
Dr. Jacqueline “Jax” Cheung, Editor-In-Chief of Elk Grove Tribune
About Albie Aware
Albie Aware is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Sacramento which was founded in 2004 in memory of Alberta “Albie” Carson who died from breast cancer. Their mission is to provide life saving breast cancer testing, prevention, education, advocacy, and compassionate support. www.albieaware.org
