EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so for this edition of 12 Health, host Shannon Hegy sat down with a survivor and her doctor to discuss the disease and how it’s treated.
Christine Alex of Bristol was diagnosed last year at the age of 39. Knowing her family has a history of breast cancer, she started getting mammograms at 35, and following her diagnosis, she made the difficult decision to undergo a double mastectomy.
MORE: Breast cancer survivor recounts journey after early detection
Dr. Sophia Rizk, an oncologist with Southcoast Health, said it’s crucial for women to know their family history since it could mean getting mammograms before the recommended age of 40.
Dr. Rizk also discussed new treatments including immunotherapy, disparities in survival rates among Black women, new technology in detecting cancer in those with dense breast tissue, as well as New York becoming the first state in the country to require insurance to cover cold caps for hair preservation during treatment.
12 Health airs Tuesdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on the free WPRI 12+ TV app, which is available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Samsung streaming platforms and TVs.
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