Breast health

There are factors you can and cannot control in terms of developing breast cancer. Some factors that can increase your risk of developing breast cancer include:

• Family history of breast, ovarian or prostate cancer
• Having your first period before 12 years old
• High bone density
• Male family members diagnosed with breast cancer
• Older age
• Personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Positive test for specific gene mutations
• Previous biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia or cancer
• Prior radiation for childhood cancer
• Starting menopause after 55 years old

More controllable risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer include:

• Being exposed to a large amount of radiation
• Being overweight
• Having children, or having your first child after age 35
• High levels of estrogen in the blood
• Not breastfeeding
• Obesity
• Postmenopausal hormone use
• Taking birth control pills for five years or longer

Diagnosing breast cancer early plays a key role in a positive outcome. While we offer screening options, self-examinations are essential to ongoing breast care, and can lead to the early detection of potential abnormalities. The American College of Radiology recommends the following guidelines for who should receive a breast cancer screening:

• Women who are 40 to 44 years old can consider starting annual mammograms
• Women between 45 and 54 years old should get mammograms every year
• Women are who 55 years old and older can either switch to mammograms every two years or continue yearly screening

Beyond self-examinations, your breast health starts with annual mammogram screenings and a breast cancer risk assessment. Our experienced imaging specialists work together to provide comprehensive breast screening services to help save more lives by detecting breast cancer early.

Although male breast cancers are rare (less than one percent of breast cancers), the incidence rate has increased by 0.8 percent annually from 1975 to 2008. It is not recommended for men to participate in screening mammography, but a self-exam is appropriate.

Mammography

Our women's imaging center is recognized by the American College of Radiology for its commitment to excellence in mammography care, including 3D mammography. 3D mammograms can show changes in breast tissue two years before it can be felt, allowing for early diagnoses and treatment, when breast cancer is most curable.

A screening mammogram is your annual mammogram that is done every year. Sometimes, the radiologist may ask you to come back for follow-up images to rule out an unclear area in the breast, or to evaluate a lump. This is called called a diagnostic mammogram.

3D mammography

A 3D mammogram is very similar to a conventional 2D mammogram, but it is able to detect many more cancers and reduce false positives.

The 3D exam allows doctors to see cancers significantly more clear than conventional 2D mammography. Instead of viewing all of the complexities of your breast tissue in a flat image, as with traditional 2D mammography, fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by the tissue above or below.

3D mammograms are recommended if you have:

• Dense breast tissue
• Family history of breast cancer or previous breast cancer diagnosis
• Previous mammogram results that were inconclusive
• Previously been called back for repeat breast scans
• Undergone biopsies for suspicious masses or lesions in the past

Like a 2D mammogram, our technologist will position you, compress your breast and take images from different angles. Very low amounts of radiation are used during the exam, just like a film-screen mammogram.

Benefits of 3D mammograms include:

• Clearer images
• Earlier detection of breast cancers
• Increased breast cancer detection rates
• Reduced need for unnecessary biopsies, minimizing patient anxieties and costs

Other breast imaging and diagnostic services we offer

Because we're committed to providing the most accurate, detailed results, we use other methods to check for and diagnose cancer, including:

• Breast and abdomen ultrasound: Noninvasive procedures meant to provide a closer look at abnormalities found during a mammogram or, because radiation isn't used, a screening that's safe for pregnant women
• Stereotactic breast biopsy: Minimally invasive procedure, usually done on an outpatient basis, to get a tissue sample for testing after an abnormality is discovered during a mammogram

Bone density testing

The primary purpose of bone density testing is to detect osteoporosis, the gradual loss of calcium that causes bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break. Bone density tests are also used to assess your risk for developing fractures, or track the effects of treatment for osteoporosis and other conditions that cause bone loss. Additionally, if you have certain types of breast cancer, you may be at an increased risk of osteoporosis or bone issues, so a DEXA scan may be useful.

Osteoporosis often affects women after menopause, but may also be found in men.

What to expect during your bone density test

Bone density tests are simple, painless and take about 20 minutes. These exams use an enhanced form of X-ray technology, known as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), to determine the mineral density of bones and make an accurate diagnosis.

During the procedure, you lie on a cushioned table, while a scanner passes over your body. A radiologist interprets your exam, and test results are sent to your ordering physician.