And the answer: Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
In 2017, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, during which she recalls being “to-her-bones-terrified.” Around a year later, she made a full recovery, which she credits to her loving support group and her excellent Screen Actors Guild union health insurance.
Since the early 1990s, the familiar pink ribbon representing breast cancer awareness has slowly but surely gained visibility. From t-shirts to bumper stickers, posters to rallies, the efforts to spread awareness about breast cancer have led to a widely-held recognition of its high cancer rates among women. Breast cancer is so common, in fact, that an estimated 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed within their lifetimes.
Luckily, strides in advocacy over the past several decades have greatly expanded the preventative and treatment resources available to women. Mammograms, for one, are a powerful tool in detecting breast cancer early. In fact, the tests can identify cancerous cells up to three years before any tumor has formed. In 2000, the FDA approved the first digital mammography unit, followed by the approval of the first 3D breast imaging technology 11 years later—a tool which quickly proved superior to digital imaging. The new mammogram technology takes multiple images, allowing the radiologist to view the breast layer-by-layer rather than viewing a single flat image. Ultimately, the rise in digital mammography allows doctors to better identify invasive cancers and helps avoid false positives.
Did you know?
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Don your pink, donate to a cause, and join the conversation about breast cancer awareness to support the search for a cute. This year, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is organized around providing necessary medical screenings to women in need. Learn how to get involved here.
