Bibb CountyLocal News County, medical officials stress importance of breast cancer screenings

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Although it’s almost over, county and medical officials stress the importance of breast cancer screenings.

Thanks for joining us for 41nbc news at 6:00.

I'm shelby coates.

Tucker sargent will join us shortly.

Our top stoyr tonight at 6: october is breast cancer awareness month.

Although it's almost over ... county and medical officials stress the importance of breast cancer screenings.

41nbc's jatrissa wooten has more.

Sot: elaine lucas, macon-bibb commissioner "the scan showed that i did have cancer, breast cancer" but macon-bibb commissioner elaine lucas says she is now cancer free.

According to doctors at navicent health, breast cancer is the most treatable cancer if detected early.

Commission valerie wynn says her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and lived for 15 years after her first diagnosis.

She says had they detected the cancer early, she probably would have lived longer.

Sot: dr. ashley ray "if we caught it early its 90% overall survival meaning that it will not end your life" doctor ashely ray is a surgical specialist at coliseum medical center.

She says both women and men should get screened.

According to statistics, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life, and less than one percent for men.

Sot: ashley ray: breast surgeon at coliseum surgical specialist "that means everybody knows somebody or has been touched by this disease" doctors say women 40 and older should get an annual mammogram.

But if you have a family history of breast cancer, you should get screened earlier.

Dr. paul dale with the peyton anderson cancer center says if you don't have insurance, there are resources to help.

Sot: dr. paul dale cancer center director peyton anderson "there available to help the c1 3 b13 middle georgia area, not just in bibb county.

I think we have opportunities to offer other areas, the breast test and commissioner