• Mammogram
• Women's Health
• Cancer Care

Ladies! Get Screened for Breast Cancer

By: Tori Bowlin

September 01, 2024

Early detection is a significant piece of the breast cancer puzzle. Susan Cox, Renown Health Senior Director of Cancer Operations, discusses what you need to watch for and how the latest technology can help detect potential cancer sooner.

When should women start getting breast exams?

It depends on risk factors:

• Average-risk women: Most medical organizations recommend the first mammogram between 40 and 44.
• Higher-risk women: Dependent on their high risk, which will dictate when they start screening, but generally around the age of 30 and not before 25 years old.

Risk factors and preventative steps

Some risk factors are controllable and are associated with how estrogen is managed in the body, such as weight and alcohol consumption. For example, it’s recommended to limit alcohol consumption because alcohol is metabolized in the liver, which can vary the amount of estrogen in the body.

More lives are being saved through early detection and advanced treatments. And although screenings do not prevent breast cancer, they can help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. In addition, your provider can help you understand which breast cancer screening tests are right for you.

A variety of diagnostic tests (ultrasound or MRI) may be ordered if a mammogram reveals potential cancer. First, the tests look for soft tissue breast abnormalities, which may be benign cysts or tumors. Then, a biopsy may be requested to determine if these masses are indeed cancerous.

Types of Screenings

• 3D Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography: Renown Health offers cutting-edge 3D Tomosynthesis Mammograms at all locations. This technology creates detailed images by combining multiple X-ray layers, allowing radiologists to view the breast with greater precision. It's great for spotting anything unusual, from cancer to cysts, and decreases the need for additional call-back imaging.
• Whole-Breast Ultrasound: If you've got dense breast tissue, this ultrasound is a game-changer. It's used with mammograms to find small cancers that might be harder to see otherwise within dense breast tissue.

Renown Health's Certified Breast Center

As a certified breast center, Renown offers support services for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This includes treatment and a certified cancer nurse navigator. Nurse navigators help with additional referrals, assist with understanding of the physician’s plan of care and address barriers to treatment, such as support for missed work or transportation concerns.

Breast Cancer Stages