BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, this year about over 310,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

What You Need To Know

  • October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

  • The American Cancer Society estimates 310,720 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024

  • Med Center Health in Bowling Green offers walk-in clinics so people can get needed mammograms

  • The American Cancer Society recommends women between 40 and 44 get screened for breast cancer every year; women 55 and older, every other year

Dr. Diego Cabrera, an oncologist with Med Center Health and this year, he is raising awareness about breast cancer.

Cabrera said, “Definitely a very prevalent disease. We’ll see around 400,000 of deaths here in America, and thousands of deaths.”

While there are thousands of cases every year, Cabrera says people may not even know they have breast cancer since it's difficult to detect.

Cabrera said, “For the most part, it doesn’t give any pain. When you have a tumor, it typically doesn’t give any pain. Some patients are going to feel a lump, some patients are not going to feel a lump.”

While self-examinations are useful, Cabrera says the best way to detect it is through a mammogram. 

Cabrera said, “Mammography is the best. We also use ultrasounds. We also use MRIs on the right person.”

Two years ago, Med Center Health started walk-in breast clinics, where on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., people can walk in to see an oncologist.

The American Cancer Society recommends women between 40 and 44 start screening for breast cancer with a mammogram every year.

Women 55 and older are recommended every other year.

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