By Marte Wasserman, MD, Mayo Clinic Florida; The Society of Healers, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida
What You Need to Know
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about breast health
reetings and L'Shana Tova! As you may know, clinically apparent, thereby allowing the greatest possibility of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For a cure. 3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis, is those of us who work in breast health, we spend a technology that not only improves breast cancer detection this month educating our communities about the but also decreases false positive rates and has become latest recommendations regarding breast health. This includes mainstream. This technology obtains cross-sectional images screening mammography, risk reduction strategies and through the breast, helping to uncover small masses and encouragement of funding for breast cancer research and tissue abnormalities that would otherwise be obscured by patient support organizations. My interest in breast health is surrounding breast tissue on a conventional mammogram. two-fold. Professionally, I am a breast radiologist at the Because of the advantages provided by 3D mammography, Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health at the insurance companies are increasingly providing coverage for Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Personally, I am the daughter of their customers. an advanced-stage breast cancer survivor, and I am, therefore, a high-risk patient myself. I certainly understand the It is important not to panic if you receive high stakes involved with a breast cancer notification of an abnormal screening diagnosis and how this disease affects mammogram. A "recall" simply means patients and their families. As that an area of the mammogram The goal of annual someone who has seen how breast requires further imaging to be screening mammography is cancers emerge in a multitude of adequately evaluated. Actually, most patients, family members, and recalls do not end up as a cancer to find cancers as early as friends over the years, I am grateful diagnosis. Even among lesions that possible...allowing the to be given this opportunity to require a biopsy, only a small share my insights and take-home percentage are ultimately diagnosed points about breast health. as a breast cancer.
greatest possibility of a cure.
For average-risk patients, annual screening mammography starting at age 40 saves lives and is the foundation of breast health. Robust data collected over many years supports this recommendation. Initiation of screening at age 40 results in the most significant mortality reduction. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology/Society of Breast Imaging, and Mayo Clinic recommend this screening protocol.
Screening mammograms are better than ever, but like all medical exams, they are not perfect. False negatives can happen when mammograms do not demonstrate any signs of malignancy even when cancer is present. False positives can happen when suspicious findings on a mammogram turn out to be benign. The goal of annual screening mammography is to find cancers as early as possible, before they become
Screening mammograms are only intended for patients without symptoms. A diagnostic appointment is required in the setting of breast-related concerns. Screening mammograms are composed of standardized mammographic views, and after completion, the patient usually leaves the department. However, a diagnostic workup typically involves special mammographic views targeted to an area of concern and possibly includes an ultrasound. In addition, during a diagnostic appointment, the radiologist may do a physical examination to confirm the imaging findings. The purpose of a diagnostic appointment is to address a patient’s symptoms or to further investigate findings from screening mammography. Ultimately, the radiologist will discuss further management recommendations with the patient, including whether the patient can return to screening or if there is any need for
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