Since announcing her breast cancer diagnosis and successful treatment last month, Sen. Amy Klobuchar has been a leader in encouraging people to take advantage of preventive health care. Klobuchar, Mayo Clinic doctors and a representative from the American Cancer Society held a press conference at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on Thursday, Oct. 14, to promote the use of preventive health services and emphasize the importance of breast cancer screening.

"I think everyone that gets that call knows how scary it can be to hear the word cancer. But as we have more and more amazing treatments not only for breast cancer but other kinds of cancer, it makes it more important that finding out early can literally save your life," says Klobuchar.

Watch: Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mayo doctors discuss breast cancer screening and preventive health.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality soundbites are available in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network.”

This message comes at an important time, as studies have found that more than 1 in 3 adults reported delaying or forgoing health care because of concerns related to COVID-19. Other statistics show that the odds that a woman received a breast cancer screening were 20% lower in 2020, compared to 2019.

"Getting these screenings makes a huge difference. There are literally thousands of women out there right now with undetected breast cancer and a few men, as well. And getting the information out there that people should get their screenings at this time couldn't be more important," says Klobuchar.

"Since the onset of the pandemic, people have delayed routine care and care for chronic conditions. A lot of that was due to fear of being exposed to COVID-19 when seeking health care. Because of those delays, we're now seeing a significantly increased demand for health care and preventive services amid the ongoing pandemic, which is a welcome change. We want everyone to get the preventive screenings that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force," says Dr. Laura Breeher, a Mayo Clinic preventive medicine physician.

"There are great benefits to meeting with primary care providers to learn about your risk, to see if you may be a candidate for medications to help prevent breast cancer and even for screening beyond the traditional mammogram," says Dr. Tufia Haddad, a Mayo Clinic medical oncologist.

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Learn about the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and about cancer screening in the articles below:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Why breast cancer screening is important
• Screening for breast cancer
• Why lung cancer screening is important, especially for minorities
• Screening for lung cancer
• Consumer Health: Are you at risk for prostate cancer?
• Screening for prostate cancer

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For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

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