Happy Mothers Day!
MAY 2014
iNSiDE
calendar • earth talk • movie time dad’s eye view • discovery box • much more! SUMMER 2014
Women’s Breast Health Mammography at 40 is Still Best Practice
W
hat keeps you up at night? For Dr. Cathryn Chicola of the Breast C enter at Oregon Imaging Centers, it’s conflicting reports on the benefits of mammography. “Women are confused about whether they should start their mammograms at age 40 or 50, and so they postpone getting started with what is a really important annual routine.” The American Cancer Society advocates a simple program of regular breast self exams for women, combined with annual mammograms for women 40 and older. That is still the best way for women to protect themselves against breast cancer. In the last 30 years, annual screenings are credited with discovering 50% of all new, small breast cancers. Combined with better treatments, often conducted earlier, the sur vival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer is significantly higher. “Mammograms are a really important part of the survival equation,” says Dr. Chicola. “And risk begins to climb at 40. There is no reason to wait a full decade before beginning screenings.”
About one in ten screenings will prompt a “call back” for additional mammogram views or the use of ultrasound to get a better look at a possible abnormality shown in the imaging. “The call back can be stressful for women, and
f i n d
u s
o n l i n e
a t
critics of mammograms cite that as unnecessary, given that many of the abnormalities turn out to be just that: variations that are not harmful,” Dr. Chicola explains. “But we believe the short-term worry is a tolerable risk given the greater danger of undiagnosed cancer.” To minimize st ress, Oregon Imaging Centers provides a ‘patient navigator’ w ho i s av ai l abl e to all patients, but s p e c i f i c a l l y supports those patients who have been recommended f o r b i o p s y. S h e educates and guides each woman through the procedure and is available for emotional
w w w . o r e g o n f a m i l y . c o m
support and to answer questions. Mammograms alone are not enough. “Know yourself,” counsels Dr. Chicola. “Be familiar with your breasts and give yourself credit to know if something’s different.” If it is, call your doctor. Many women p ostp one a mammogram because of rumors of pain and because they think they don’t have the time. Yet new technology has vastly improved the experience. “We use pads in our machines, and that minimizes discomfort,” says technologist Jennifer Cantu. “And it only takes 15 to 20 minutes to get a screening mammogram.” It’s worth the time. Despite a highly publicized Canadian report that claimed mammograms at age continued on page 2…