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Every year, every other year?
Should I start when I turn 40 or is it 50? These are common questions heard by physicians from their patients regarding mammograms.
In recent years, there has been a lot of conflicting information surrounding mammograms and breast screenings, making it difficult to know what recommendations should be followed.
With breast cancer being the second most common type of cancer in women in the United States behind skin cancer, it is as important as ever to remain vigilant in screenings and the process of early detection.
Risk factors increasing the probability of developing breast cancer include personal and/or family history of breast cancer, age, genetic changes (specific gene alterations), obesity, breast density and some hormone replacement therapies.
Early detection through self-breast exams, mammograms, and clinical breast exams has decreased mortality rates in those diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular mammograms are the best tests for physicians to detect cancer early, sometimes up to three years before they can be felt.
What exactly is a mammogram? Simply put, a mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. Traditional mammograms use a special x-ray machine that creates 2-D images of the breasts that allow radiologists to look for signs of breast cancer or other abnormalities.
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women, who aren’t experiencing any symptoms or feel no unusual breast lumps, follow these guidelines:
• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health;
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over;
• Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Monthly breast self-exams (BSE) are recommended for women starting during their 20s and 30s.
Limitations to traditional 2-D mammograms may result in more callbacks and create unnecessary anxiety for patients.
With that said, Mercy Women’s Centers at both St. Charles and St. Anne recently began offering 3-D breast imaging.
Mercy, the only local breast center accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, will be the third healthcare provider in Ohio and the first in our region to offer 3-D breast Tomosynthesis for breast cancer screening.
With 3-D Mammography, an x-ray tube travels in an arc across the patient’s breast. The machine takes 15 successive, low-dose digital images of the patient’s breast in a matter of seconds with each image at a slightly different angle. The result is a compiled 3-D image of individual layers of breast. Radiologists are then able to recreate the breast’s spherical structure and see “inside” the complete image, like looking inside a ball instead of a flat circle on paper.
3-D imaging offers:
• Easier detection: Our radiologists can carefully go through each layer of the compiled 3-D breast tissue images to more accurately screen for and pinpoint the size, shape and location of potential breast cancers.
• Earlier detection: Physicians can detect smaller tumors sooner – at the earliest stages of breast cancer.
• Fewer call backs and false positives: With more clear and precise full breast images, radiologists can better distinguish harmless abnormalities from real tumors.
• More comprehensive: Fifteen percent of women with detected breast cancer have another tumor in the same breast or the other breast.
• Consistent benchmarking: 3-D Mammogram machines take both 3-D and 2-D images so radiologists can compare results to previous digital mammogram results.
3-D Mammography is now the standard for all patients getting their mammogram at Mercy.
To schedule a breast screening with 3-D mammography or have questions about this important breast health procedure, call the Mercy Women’s Center at St. Charles at 419-696-7900 or St. Anne at 419-407-1770.
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