Each October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month occurs in hopes of bringing awareness to the benefits of early detection and treatment. It’s time to talk about scheduling mammograms for your mom. Is she ever too old for one? How do you know if it’s still important?

Age is a big factor when it comes to breast cancer rates. Around four percent of all cases are women under the age of 40. The median age is 62, but the majority of cases are found in women between the ages of 70 and 79. Between 70 and 79, the numbers increase to just over 450 of 100,000 women in the U.S.

Guidelines for Mammograms

Depending on your mom’s risk factors and family history, she may not need to go for mammograms as often or at all when she’s in her 70s. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women between the ages of 70 and 74 go for a mammogram every other year. After the age of 75, it’s up to the woman. Women that are 75 or older tend to have a higher risk of being overtreated with unnecessary and risky surgical procedures.

The American Cancer Society recommends women go every two years after the age of 55. If she’s in good health, she may want to keep going for mammograms every two years. If she has other health issues, the risks may outweigh the benefits. It’s a discussion your mom should have with her doctor.

Has Your Mom Stopped Driving?

Once your mom stops driving due to issues vision or flexibility in the neck, she may find it harder to get to a clinic where mammograms are done. If that’s the case, she’ll need you or another licensed driver to get her to and from her medical appointments. That can be a hassle when you’re still working.

Do you have a hard time scheduling time off to drive your mom to her medical appointments? You don’t have to be the only one to offer her a ride. Senior care aides can drive your mom to her doctor’s office for you. Let the caregiver get your mom out of the house on time and do the medical office.

The caregiver stays in the car or waiting room during the appointment and drives her back home. If she needs help during the appointment, her caregiver can escort her into the office and help her with forms and payments. Call a senior care agency to make arrangements.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Belmont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

Sources:

https://ww5.komen.org/
https://ww5.komen.org/

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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