All women are at risk for breast cancer according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  Additionally, the CDC says that men can also get breast cancer, but cases of breast cancer are not common among men.  With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all racial and ethic groups in the United States.

That’s why the Neighborhood Union Health Center located at 186 Sunset Avenue in Atlanta is offering breast cancer education and counseling for women on Tuesday, October 12 from 11:00 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Fulton County Health Services Director Dr. Patrice Harris urges all women to pay attention to their breast health. “Clinical Breast Exams (CBE) and mammography are the most widely used approaches to detecting breast cancer and decreasing the number of deaths from breast cancer.  Although CBE and mammograms do not prevent breast cancer, early detection and treatment through CBE and mammography can save lives,” said Dr. Harris.

CDC statistics indicate that breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women. Although more white women get breast cancer, more black women die from it.   In Georgia, breast and colorectal cancer mortality rates are higher (33% and 71%, respectively) among black women than among white females. Among Hispanic women, breast cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer.

In 2006, (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 191,410 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,820 women died from the disease.  Neighborhood Union Staff members will discuss the risks and means to prevent disease and death during presentations and counseling.

For more information about detecting and treating breast cancer, call the Neighborhood Union at 404-612-4665.  For the location of a Fulton County Health Center near you, call 404-730-1211.

Fulton County Health Center Locations 

• Adamsville Health Center,3699 Bakers Ferry Rd., S.E, Atlanta, Georgia 30331ldredge Health Center, 99 Jesse Hill Jr., Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
• The Center for Health and Rehabilitation, 265 Boulevard, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30312
• Center Hill Health Center, 3201 Atlanta Industrial Pkwy., Atlanta, Georgia 30318
• College Park Health Center, 1920 John Wesley Ave., College Park, Georgia 30337
• Lakewood Health Center ,1853 Jonesboro Rd., S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30315 
• Neighborhood Union Heath Center, 186 Sunset Ave., N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30314 
• North Fulton Health Center (North Fulton), 3155 Royal Drive, Suite 125, Alpharetta, GA 30004
• North Fulton Government Service Center, 7741 Roswell Road, Room 102, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30350 

Call 404-730-1211 to find out what services are offered at the clinic nearest you.