January marks the start of a new year, a time often synonymous with prioritizing health and wellness. For women, this means scheduling an annual visit and routine screening at the gynecologist to support reproductive health.

January is also Cervical Health Awareness Month. Every year, more than 12,000 Americans are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer was once considered the leading cause of death among women in the United States, but today is considered highly preventable and treatable due to vaccination and early detection from routine testing.

Every October, communities around the country rally behind fundraising events and education campaigns to generate awareness around breast cancer. Early stages of breast cancer often have no symptoms, so with over 281,550 cases predicted for 2021, recommended regular screenings have the potential to save thousands of lives.

August 1 is World Lung Cancer Day, a day aimed at raising awareness about the causes and treatment of lung cancer and the importance of early detection through lung cancer screening. It is especially important to encourage education around the prevention and treatment of lung cancer, as it is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S. To share more insight on this disease, Cindy Vu, NP, with Dignity Health Medical Group — Dominican has provided important information on lung cancer symptoms, screening and treatment.

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month, and with summer right around the corner, many are looking forward to enjoying the warm weather and spending more time outdoors. However, it’s important to protect our skin from potential harm from the sun. Elyn Bowers, MD, a dermatologist at Mercy Medical Group Midtown Dermatology in Sacramento, shared the following tips on reducing skin damage while enjoying those summer days.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase education and awareness around a disease that affects women of all ages and ethnicities. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., second only to skin cancer. Close to 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. 

Joelle Jakobsen, MD, FACS, a general surgeon and breast cancer specialist with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group in Folsom, and Carmichael Calif. and Daniel Herron, MD, director of Women’s Imaging at Dignity Health Advanced Imaging, shared helpful information on breast cancer and mammograms.