National Women’s Health Week runs through this Saturday, May 16, and all week, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reminding women across the state to prioritize mental and physical well-being.
The most recent data available (2023) shows heart disease was the leading killer of women in South Carolina. Cancer was the second-leading cause of death.
Heart disease accounted for nearly 26,000 hospitalizations in the state. DPH encourages women to maintain normal blood pressure, eat a healthy diet, and stay active to avoid heart-related problems.
On average, more than 5,000 women die from cancer every year in South Carolina with about 15,000 new invasive cancers diagnosed among women in the state. The five most common are breast, lung, colorectal, uterine and skin cancer.
DPH encourages monthly breast self-exams and mammograms beginning at age 40. The agency’s Best Chance Network (BCN) is a statewide program designed to increase access to breast and cervical cancer screening services for qualifying women who might not otherwise have access to these services. BCN also works with medical providers in all 46 counties to ensure that eligible women can get appointments for their breast and cervical cancer screenings.
Colorectal cancer—another common cancer in women—can be screened for in a variety of ways; however, a colonoscopy is preferred. Colorectal cancer screening is recommended to begin for most people at age 45, as these cancers are increasing in younger adults.
For more resources and information to enhance your health, visit DPH’s Health & Wellness webpage. For mental health resources available in South Carolina, visit the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health website.