Tuesday marks an important day on the calendar for women. It is National Call Your Doctor Day. The event is marked on the second Tuesday in June. It encourages women to call their doctor to set up a Well-Woman exam.
The nonprofit, Bright Pink, came up with the idea in 2016. The goal is to remind women to arrange for a check-up at this mid-point in the year.
Studies show women tend to delay getting regular medical check-ups. That is because they are often too busy with jobs and managing their families.
Update on Mammogram Recommendations
It also is important for women to keep up with changes in health recommendations. A federal panel, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, issued a draft recommendation last month that said women should start getting screened for mammograms at age 40. The previous recommendation was 50 years old.
The draft recommendation said women should have mammograms every two years between 40 and 74. The panel made the change because recent studies show more women are getting breast cancer in their 40s.
However, other medical groups such as The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists already recommended women start getting mammograms at 40 especially if they are more at risk of developing the disease.
These groups encourage women to call their doctor and discuss their individual needs. That is why National Call Your Doctor Day is so important and highlights the need for women to set up a wellness check.
