Hologic, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOLX), a global leader in women’s health, will kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by ringing the Nasdaq opening bell for the 18th year. As part of this annual tradition, Hologic is launching a comprehensive patient education campaign to bust common myths about breast cancer, mammograms and breast density.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Graphic: Business Wire)
“As a leading women’s health organization, we are committed to supporting women at every stage of their health journey and that includes advocating for change and increasing awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection,” said Steve MacMillan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hologic. “There are many harmful myths about mammograms that keep women from understanding their risks and getting screened annually. We want to empower women with facts so they can prioritize themselves and take charge of their health with confidence.”
Breast cancer remains the world’s most common cancer in women,i impacting 1 in 8 women over the course of their lifetime.ii When detected early, breast cancer is highly treatable, with a five-year survival rate of 99%.iii Despite the prevalence of breast cancer and the benefits of early detection, more than 40% of women in the United States reported skipping potentially life-saving breast cancer screenings.iv The primary reasons women skip or delay a recommended exam include not knowing the screening was necessary or important for them, anxiety about the exam, lack of time or concerns about pain or discomfort.v
“At Hologic, we are committed to continually advancing technology and improving patient outcomes across the continuum of breast health,” said Erik Anderson, Hologic’s President of Breast and Skeletal Health Solutions. “But we know that world-class technology alone won’t decrease rates of death from breast cancer. It also takes empowering and practical education. The #BustTheMyth campaign adds to our extensive history of public outreach and reinforces our commitment to saving and improving more lives.”
Hologic’s educational campaign addresses many deterrents to screening by dispelling common myths and helping women learn the truth about who needs a mammogram and more:
Myth: I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, so I don’t need to worry.
Truth: While genetics can be a factor, 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.vi
Myth: I can tell if my breasts are dense by feeling them.
Truth: Breast density cannot be felt. It is determined by a mammogram.vii Having dense breasts increases your risk of breast cancer,viii which makes annual screening especially critical. Hologic’s 3D Mammography™ exam is the only mammogram FDA-approved as superior for women with dense breasts when compared to 2D alone.ix,x
Hologic’s #BustTheMyth campaign debuts at a critical moment for women. Earlier this year, the United States Preventive Services Taskforce released updated breast cancer screening guidelines. Additionally, this month, new reporting standards from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration went into effect that require mammography facilities to notify patients about their breast density. These changes make education and awareness even more important for women who are trying to understand screening guidelines or who may not know why their breast density matters.
Join the conversation and help spread the word using #BustTheMyth on social media or by visiting Hologic.com/BustTheMyth.
About Hologic, Inc.
Hologic, Inc. is a global leader in women’s health focused on developing innovative medical technologies that effectively detect, diagnose and treat health conditions and raise the standard of care around the world. For four decades, we have transformed early detection, championed preventive care and fueled innovative surgical solutions to improve patients’ lives.
Hologic is a catalyst for change in the world. We work in partnership with others to raise awareness and inspire policy and action to break down barriers that disproportionately affect women and prevent them from receiving the care they need and deserve. Women’s health is more than a business, it is our purpose.
To learn more, visit www.hologic.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
Hologic and The Science of Sure are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hologic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.
References
i National Cancer Institute. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. SEER Stat Fact Sheets 2013: Breast. [url="]https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html [/url]
ii Cancer.org. How Common Is Breast Cancer? [url="]https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html#:~:text=Overall, the average risk of,will never have the disease [/url]
iii National Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast Cancer Facts. [url="]https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts/ [/url]
iv Hologic. The Screening Action Gap: Why U.S. Women Miss Critical Health Screenings. [url="]https://hologic.womenshealthindex.com/en/hologic-us-health-survey?atr=false [/url]
v Hologic Global Women’s Health Index. [url="]https://hologic.womenshealthindex.com/en/hologic-us-health-survey?atr=false [/url]
vi Breastcancer.org. Breast Cancer Facts and Statistics. [url="]www.breastcancer.org/facts-statistics [/url]
vii Dense Breast Info. Patient questions and answers. [url="]www.densebreast-info.org/patient-questions-and-answers/ [/url]
viii Mskcc.org. Dense Breast Tissue & Cancer Risk: What You Should Know. [url="]www.mskcc.org/news/what-women-should-know-about-breast-density-and-cancer-risk [/url]
ix Kaminska M, Ciszewski T, et al. Breast cancer risk factors. Przeglad Menopauzalny (Menopause Review). 2015; 14(3): 196–202. doi: 10.5114/pm.2015.54346.
x Friedewald SM, Rafferty EA, Rose SL, et al. Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography. JAMA. 2014 Jun 25;311(24):2499-507.
Source: Hologic, Inc.
