October is an important month — and not just because there's scrumptious Halloween candy galore. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Jennifer Garner wants to remind you of that with a PSA. On her Instagram, she posted a video of herself getting her annual mammogram to remind her followers to get their checkups.
The 47-year-old can be seen going through the procedure, which involves taking X-rays of the breasts. She makes a slightly dismayed face while she’s getting this done — which is fair, as the CDC notes the procedure can be uncomfortable or painful for many women. You also see Garner cheerfully doodling faces on anatomical diagrams of breasts. She also blows up a doctor’s latex glove like a balloon animal as she waits patiently for her results.
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In the end, she and her doctor give a thumbs up to the camera after her physician tells her the mammogram looks “perfect.” This all may might seem like a lighthearted nudge to get a mammogram, but the video raises awareness for a serious issue. The American Cancer Society notes that early detection is key when it comes to breast cancer, and can save lives.
Deaths from the invasive disease have been declining since 1989, and Carol DeSantis, MPH, author of a recent American Cancer Society breast cancer study, recently told Refinery29 that early detection is a big part of that.
“Every October I have a standing date. For a mammogram," Garner wrote. "For me, having the appointment on the books makes it routine, like the dentist. I know it’s scary, sisters, but just do it — the next best thing to an all clear is early detection. To everyone in the thick of the battle — respect and love and strength to you.”
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