A 10 Minute Conversation Could Save Your Life
October 20, 2025
By: Dr. Emily Dahm, HSHS Medical Group Family Medicine
Talking to your provider about breast and lung cancer screenings could be one of the most important things you do for your health.
Now is a great time to have this talk. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Why Are These Screenings Important?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in women, but it causes the most cancer deaths. The good news is that both cancers can be treated more easily if they are found early.
Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast grow in a way they shouldn’t. Women mostly get breast cancer, but men can get it too. Age, family history, certain genes and habits can make breast cancer more likely.
Getting regular mammograms (breast X-rays) has helped lower the number of women who die from breast cancer by almost 40% since 1990, according to the American College of Radiology.
Why Get a Mammogram?
Mammograms can find breast cancer before you feel a lump or notice any changes. If breast cancer is found early, it is much easier to treat. Most women who find breast cancer early survive—over 90%, according to the World Health Organization.
When Should You Get a Mammogram?
Lung cancer is often caused by smoking, but people who do not smoke can get it too. This can happen from breathing in smoke from others, from the environment, or from family history. Lung cancer is very serious because it is often found too late
Why Get a Lung Cancer Screening?
Most people do not have symptoms until lung cancer is already advanced. A special scan called a low-dose CT scan can find lung cancer early. Studies show that these scans help people live longer. The National Lung Screening Trial found that lung screenings lower the chance of dying from lung cancer by 20% for people at high risk.
Who Should Get a Lung Cancer Screening?
Schedule time to discuss your risk factors and screening options with your provider. It only takes about 10 minutes to have this important conversation. If you need a provider, you can find one at providers.hshs.org.
Talking to your provider about breast and lung cancer screenings could be one of the most important things you do for your health.
Now is a great time to have this talk. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Why Are These Screenings Important?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in women, but it causes the most cancer deaths. The good news is that both cancers can be treated more easily if they are found early.
Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast grow in a way they shouldn’t. Women mostly get breast cancer, but men can get it too. Age, family history, certain genes and habits can make breast cancer more likely.
Getting regular mammograms (breast X-rays) has helped lower the number of women who die from breast cancer by almost 40% since 1990, according to the American College of Radiology.
Why Get a Mammogram?
Mammograms can find breast cancer before you feel a lump or notice any changes. If breast cancer is found early, it is much easier to treat. Most women who find breast cancer early survive—over 90%, according to the World Health Organization.
When Should You Get a Mammogram?
- If you are 40–49 years old: Talk to your doctor about when to start getting mammograms.
- If you are 50–74 years old: Most experts say you should get a mammogram every one or two years.
- If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may need to start earlier or get tested more often.
Lung cancer is often caused by smoking, but people who do not smoke can get it too. This can happen from breathing in smoke from others, from the environment, or from family history. Lung cancer is very serious because it is often found too late
Why Get a Lung Cancer Screening?
Most people do not have symptoms until lung cancer is already advanced. A special scan called a low-dose CT scan can find lung cancer early. Studies show that these scans help people live longer. The National Lung Screening Trial found that lung screenings lower the chance of dying from lung cancer by 20% for people at high risk.
Who Should Get a Lung Cancer Screening?
- If you are 50-80 years old and
- You are a current smoker or previously smoked at least a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years
Schedule time to discuss your risk factors and screening options with your provider. It only takes about 10 minutes to have this important conversation. If you need a provider, you can find one at providers.hshs.org.
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