October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a reminder that early detection saves lives. Each year, nearly 17,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with breast cancer, but advances in screening and care are changing those outcomes.

Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole spoke with Dr. Jennifer H. Menell, a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with Optum Medical Care and Crystal Run Healthcare, about how new technology and simple habits can make a difference.

Dr. Menell, who trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, says the key to survival is early detection:

“The goal of the mammogram is to find breast cancer before a woman can even feel a lump,” she said. “That’s when treatment is most successful—and often curable.”

One major advancement is 3D mammography, now available at CareMount and Crystal Run facilities across the Hudson Valley. The technology improves detection, especially for women with dense breast tissue, and is covered by most insurance providers.

“Patients don’t even have to ask for it,” Menell said. “It happens seamlessly.”

She recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40, with earlier screenings for those with a strong family history or BRCA gene mutations.

Menell also emphasized that healthy living supports prevention:

“Eat well, exercise, limit alcohol, and get enough sleep,” she said. “But even with all that, regular screening is still essential.”

Access remains a barrier for some, but Menell notes that local providers are expanding options—with evening and Saturday appointments to help working women and parents find time for screenings.

Despite the challenges, Menell remains optimistic about the future of breast cancer care:

“We’re finding cancers earlier and earlier,” she said. “For many women, it becomes just a small bump in the road. I’m proud to be part of a team that’s helping save lives.”