October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: What to Know
Piedmont Cartersville highlights the importance of early detection, screening and high-quality treatment options
Cartersville, Ga. — According to the Centers for Disease Control, breast cancer is the second most common cancer and cancer-related cause of death among women in the United States, with one in eight women being diagnosed in their lifetime.
Piedmont Cartersville recommends women start annual mammograms at age 40. People at high risk based on family history or other factors should begin at age 30. There is hope because when caught in its earliest stages, the five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 99%. Annual mammograms can be conveniently scheduled online at
PiedmontMammo.org.
“It is essential that women prioritize breast health,” fellowship-trained breast surgeon
Cathy Graham, M.D., says. “In addition to annual mammograms, women should do at-home self-breast exams at the same time each month while in the shower, in front of a mirror or lying down to catch any changes with their breasts.”
Piedmont Oncology doctors, nurses and navigators work together to provide personalized high-quality treatment plans for patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Innovative breast cancer treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or clinical trials,” Dr. Graham explains.
Visit Piedmont.org/cancer for more information about breast cancer, a step-by-step guide to at-home self-exams and supportive services.
About Piedmont
Piedmont is empowering Georgians by changing health care. We continue to fuel Georgia’s growth through safe, cost-effective, high-quality care close to home through an integrated health care system that provides a hassle-free, unified experience. We are a private, not-for-profit organization with more than 12,000 donors annually that for centuries has sought to make a positive difference in every life we touch in the communities we serve. Across our 2,171 physical locations we care for more than 4.5 million patients and serve communities that comprise 85 percent of Georgia’s population. This includes 26 hospitals, 112 immediate care locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and more than 3,600 Piedmont Clinic members. Our patients conveniently engage with Piedmont online, as they scheduled more than 560,000 online appointments and over 120,000 virtual visits. With nearly 50,000 care givers we are the largest Georgia-based private employer of Georgians, who all came for the job, but stayed for the people. In 2024 and 2023, Piedmont has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and also as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. In 2022, Forbes ranked Piedmont on its list of the Best Large Employers in the United States. Piedmont provided more than $607 million in community impact in Fiscal Year 2024.
For more information, or booking your next appointment, visit piedmont.org.
