October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to bring attention to the risk factors of breast cancer and how routine mammograms can save thousands of lives.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about one in every eight women will develop it at some point in their lives. In recent years, this number has been rising slightly each year.

Recommendations from the American Society of Breast Surgeons suggest women over 25 undergo formal risk assessment for breast cancer, including genetic testing and evaluation of radiation personal history and begin annual mammogram screenings at age 40. Research proves that women who undergo routine mammograms are more likely to have breast cancer detected sooner, are less likely to need aggressive treatments like mastectomy and chemotherapy, and are more likely to be cured if they do develop breast cancer.

Imaging Services at Prowers Medical Center

For more information about 3D mammography at Prowers Medical Center or to schedule an appointment, call 719-336-6762 or visit prowersmedical.com/services/imaging-services

What Is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is simply a low-dose X-ray of the breast. It’s the best test we have for detecting early breast changes and cancer.

What Is a 3D Mammogram?

Prowers Medical Center offers screening and diagnostic mammograms, including 3D mammography—the preferred imaging method by the American Society of Breast Surgeons over traditional mammograms.

3D mammography takes multiple images of your breast tissue to recreate a clear, three-dimensional picture of the breast… A more advanced imaging test than traditional mammography, which only displays one 2D image of the breast, 3D mammography is used to help detect early signs of breast cancer in women.

3D mammography is FDA-approved and does not create any greater risk to the patient than a traditional mammogram. Because 3D mammograms may not be covered by all insurance plans, it is recommended to contact your insurance provider before scheduling an appointment for this specific exam.

Do I Need a Mammogram?

Following are the American Cancer Society breast-cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk of breast cancer. You are considered average risk if you don’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancers, or a known genetic mutation that increases your risk (such as the BRCA gene), and if you haven’t had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.

Other risk factors in women include reproductive history, dense breasts, hormone use and lack of physical activity or being overweight/obese after menopause.

Women at higher risk should get a mammogram every year, typically starting at age 30. Men with the BRCA inherited gene mutation should also get screening mammograms.

Talk to your provider about your risk factors and the screening schedule that’s right for you.

Age Mammogram?
40-44 Talk to your provider about starting annual mammograms.
45-54 Annual mammogram
55+* Continue annual mammograms or switch to every other year. Talk to your provider about which schedule you should follow.

* Note: In older age, you should continue mammograms if you are in good health and expect to live at least 10 more years.

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, the most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast—usually painless and hard, with irregular edges.

Other symptoms include:

  • Swelling in part or all of the breast, even with no lumps present
  • Skin dimpling
  • Breast or nipple pain
  • Nipple retraction
  • Skin on the breast that is red, dry, flaking or thickened
  • Nipple discharge
  • Swollen lymph nodes

High-Quality Imaging Services Close to Home

Prowers Medical Center Imaging Department passed the most recent Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) inspection conducted by the FDA last year. The inspection is required to ensure the safety and reliability of mammography exams in radiology departments across the nation.

FDA auditors concluded no findings or violations were present within Prowers Medical Center’s mammography procedures—a major accomplishment in meeting federal quality of care standards.

In addition to 3D mammography, the department offers several other imaging services, including X-rays, MRIs, 64-slice CT scans, PET scans, ultrasounds, nuclear medicine, DEXA scans, echocardiograms and more.