6 Celebrities Who Promote Mammograms

Almost everyone has some type of celebrity that influences them in some way or another. And no, not every celebrity influence has to be something bad or pop culture related. Celebrities can, and often do, influence good things just as often as not.

For some people, celebrities with breast cancer are extremely influential, especially when it comes to screening. Getting a mammogram is crucial when it comes to detecting breast cancer early, and an early detection makes the battle against cancer a lot more manageable.

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Despite the importance of screenings and early detections, women don’t always stay on top of getting their mammograms. Luckily, however, there are celebrities that have to influenced women (and continue to do so) to make sure they are getting screened. Here are 6 of those celebrities:

1.     Sheryl Crow –

Sheryl Crow, best known for her country and folk music, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. Without any prior symptoms of breast cancer, her mammogram was crucial for getting her cancer detected before it grew to an extreme level. She now encourages other women to make sure they keep up with their screenings, as it can be the key to getting an early detection.

2.     Sandra Lee –

Sandra Lee, best known as a celebrity chef and an author, was diagnosed with cancer when she was 48 years old. She also had no clear symptoms of having breast cancer, but came to a diagnosis because of her routine mammogram. Because of that, she now encourages others to do the same and even went on Good Morning America to do so.

3.     Rosie O’Donnell –

Best known as a comedian, actress, and TV personality, Rosie O’Donnell often encourages other women to keep up on their routine screenings so they can prevent a difficult battle with breast cancer. She explained on her show that she had a breast cancer scare after her first mammogram, where she had two spots, one in each breast, that might have been breast cancer. Fortunately, they were both benign, but since her scare she has encouraged that other women stay on top of their mammograms.

4.     Amy Robach –

The co-host of the Today Show received a mammogram on live TV in 2013. Having avoided her routine screenings for the years leading up to her live mammogram, she was shocked to find out that her results came back positive for breast cancer leading her to encourage other women to take the precautions that she had avoided.

5.     Nancy Reagan –

Ronald Reagan was not the only influential Reagan, as the former First Lady of the United States, and former actress, was also extremely influential. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, while her husband was still the president, she influenced many people to undergo the proper guidelines for mammograms as she was able to successfully remove her cancer due to her detection.

6.     Andrea Mitchell –

The chief foreign affairs correspondent on NBC was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 because of her routine mammogram. Her cancer was detected early enough to prevent the cancer from spreading anywhere, and she now encourages others to take the same precautions that helped her protect herself.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where your influence comes from so long as you make sure you take the proper precautions to care for yourself by preventing a difficult battle with cancer or cancer altogether. But, for those who find their inspiration from their favorite celebrities, there are plenty who promote mammograms. 

By Russell McBurnie

Mammograms: They’re not just for women!

When most people hear about breast cancer, the negative diagnosis is usually associated with women, but men are susceptible to breast cancer as well. Breast cancer in men is infrequent, but it can transpire. Statistics show that about one percent of all breast cancer cases occur in men. Typically, a mammogram is a tool used to help identify cancer in men and women.

Mammograms

Initially, a mammogram is an X-ray image that is taken of your breast and used to screen for breast cancer. Mammograms can often detect breast cancer in its early stages, which in turn lowers the risk of the cancer developing and can often save lives due to its early detection. During the procedure, your breasts will be pressed between two sturdy surfaces and the breast tissue will be spread apart, so that the doctor can take the X-ray and then examine the pictures for signs of cancer.

Breast Cancer signs in Men

Men will often contain far less breast tissue as opposed to women. Often times, the cancerous signs are easier to spot in men than in women. A prevalent sign of breast cancer in men is a painless lump in the chest region. Sometimes it may even be a thickening in the chest, breast or underarm area. Mammograms are great for identifying lumps long before they can be touched or seen.  

If you notice any alteration in the nipple like it is retracting, itching, or possibly even a scaly rash of the nipple, it may be Paget's disease, which can be linked with breast cancer. Paget disease is an uncommon cancer on the nipple. It has a darker circle around it called the ‘areola.’ While the majority of Paget cases occur in women, it also is also a cancer that men should keep an eye out for. Some more common examples for men with possible breast cancer symptoms are a dripping from the nipple. This is often caused by a blood soaked inflammation of the breast, or you might see a wound in the skin of the breast.

What should you do if you have Breast Cancer? 

Men can often become prideful in regards to their health. With a possible case of breast cancer, it is not different. However, if you are a man or woman and you notice a change in your breast or chest area, you should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible. The sooner you do this, the better. Breast cancer offers the highest survival rate when it is discovered earlier. A good way to find a competent and trustworthy healthcare provider is to receive a referral from a family member or friend. If you can’t do that, then call your local clinic, health department or hospital.

By Preston Copeland