Go Pink Day at 22News for breast cancer awareness

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – You may have noticed that 22News is all wearing pink on Monday and our studio lights are pink.

That’s because it’s Go Pink Day here at 22News! And 22News has partnered with the Mass General Brigham Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women in both the United States and in Massachusetts. And health experts say breast cancer, when detected early, can be cured.

Dr. Ahmad Siddiqui, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and Glenda Flynn, an advanced oncology nurse practitioner answered the following questions live on 22News.

• What exactly is cancer? And why is breast cancer seen more frequently?
• What are some of the early warning signs of breast cancer?
• Are there different types of breast cancer that a person can have?
• What is the typical survival rate for someone who is diagnosed with breast cancer? What are some of the factors that affect this?
• When do you recommend that women begin getting screened for breast cancer? And how often should you be screened?
• What are some of the ways that doctors are treating breast cancer today?
• Who is most at risk of developing breast cancer?
• Once someone gets that diagnosis, what should their next steps be?
• What can the average person do to actually lower their risk of breast cancer?