(BLACK PR WIRE/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) -- With breast cancer cases being reported daily, it is important that women begin breast detection early. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), women currently living in the United States have a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. The month of October has been dedicated to national breast cancer awareness. During this month women are educated on the importance of early breast screening.

Courtney Thomas, a senior public relations student at Florida A&M University, has a family history of the disease and said she has already begun regular screening with her physician. “I have five breast cancer survivors in my family,” said Thomas. She hopes that sometime in the near future scientists come up with a cure for combating the disease.

According to doctors, it is extremely important that women start breast cancer detection early. However, it is also important that they don’t start detection too early. Methods for detection such as mammograms can help in the detection of cancer, but the exposure of radiation involved in the process can cause cancer if exposed too much, too early.

An alternative for women who aren’t of the recommended age to start having mammograms might be getting breast ultrasounds. Breast ultrasounds are great for those women who are younger and have family history of the disease.

Although ACS reports Caucasian women have a higher incidence rate of the disease, African-American women need to be aware of the disease much more because they are being diagnosed much earlier and have a greater rate of fatality, as also reported by the ACS.