Is it time for your mammogram? | Breast Health
Published 3:15 pm Monday, October 13, 2014
The American Cancer Society estimates one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
Death rates from breast cancer have declined since 1989, with the decrease believed to be the result of earlier detection of the cancer. Annual breast health screenings can help detect breast cancer early on, before the cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body.
Breast health screenings have come a long way. Many CHI Franciscan Health clinics offer 2D and/or 3D mammography exams. The 2D mammography uses an X-ray to take two views of the breast. The 3D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, uses an X-ray to take multiple pictures at different angles. They provide doctors with a 3D image of the breast and a view of the different layers within the breast. For women under 50 and women with dense breast tissue, 3D mammography can be especially useful. But 2D and 3D mammography are both effective ways for breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
National guidelines recommend that women in good health get yearly mammograms starting at age 40. Mammograms can help detect problems that may be too small to detect by self-examination. If a mammogram shows an abnormality, you may be called in to have a second mammogram or to have a biopsy. If breast cancer is detected early, before the cancerous cells have the opportunity to spread to other parts of the body, and treated in a timely manner, the five-year survival rate of breast cancer is 98 percent.
Women age 20 to 39 aren’t recommended to have yearly mammograms unless other non-age-related factors are present, such as a history of breast or ovarian cancer in the family. However, monthly breast self-examinations are recommended by the American Cancer Society and by CHI Franciscan Health for women ages 20 and up. Even if you don’t follow a specific way to self-examine your breasts, becoming familiar with what feels and looks normal for you and knowing what doesn’t seem right for yourself can be helpful.
All women are at risk for breast cancer; however, there are things that can put women at higher risk for it:
• A personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• A family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• An abnormal breast biopsy
• Radiation therapy to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30
• Having three or more relatives with breast cancer
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a great time to begin, or continue, your regular monthly self-examinations, or to schedule a mammogram. Talk with your doctor or professional health care provider.
CHI Franciscan Health is here to help answer all your questions regarding women’s health. If you’d like to make an appointment for your mammogram this year, contact Franciscan Breast Center at St. Francis. 253-944-4025. The Breast Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cynthia Kannenberg is the manager at Franciscan Breast Center at St. Francis in Federal Way. Need a doctor? Call the Franciscan Physician 24/7 Referral Line toll-free: 1-888-825-3227.
