Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/574363
Article reviewed by Khai Tran, MD, medical director, Carol Milgard Breast Center, Tacoma; Bin Xie, MD, Highline Cancer Center, Burien; Sirisha Jain, MD, Harrison Oncology Services, Bremerton. weighing its potential risks and benefi ts in the context of a woman's overall health and estimated longevity. Check with your doctor for the best recommendation for you. When mammography is performed in conjunction with clinical breast exams and breast self-exams, the chance of detecting cancer early is even greater. Talk with your doctor about these exams and preventive strategies that may help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. A referral is not required for a screening mammogram. MRI is used as a screening tool for women who have an overall increased risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime or who have a genetic predisposition for breast cancer—such as a hereditary mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 tumor-suppressing genes. Breast MRIs are usually recommended for these women on a yearly basis, and a referral is required. Once a woman's risk of developing breast cancer is determined, screening mammography and breast MRI recommendations can be tailored to meet her individual needs. WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR APPOINTMENT When you arrive for your mammogram, you will fi rst be asked to provide or update your personal and medical history. While no special preparation is required for a screening mammogram, we do ask that you avoid wearing any powder, perfumes, deodorant or lotions on your underarms and breasts, as they can interfere with the images. During the exam, a technologist and members of our staff will guide you through the entire process to ensure a thorough exam and a comfortable, positive experience. Mammograms typically take fewer than 10 minutes to complete. Most women can expect to be at the breast center for 30 to 45 minutes from start to fi nish. The process is similar when you arrive for a breast MRI, but breast MRI requires the use of intravenous contrast. An intravenous catheter will be placed in the arm to deliver contrast during the MRI exam. The exam time is approximately 30 minutes, with the entire appointment lasting about an hour. PRACTICE PREVENTION The majority of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease. There are many non-genetic risk factors that contribute to breast cancer, including smoking, excessive alcohol use and obesity. Discussing your personal risk factors with your doctor is the fi rst step to adopting a healthier lifestyle and reducing your breast cancer risk. chifranciscan.org /// HIGHLINE MEDICAL CENTER 9 WHERE TO GO FOR YOUR MAMMOGRAM Many breast centers offer digital mammography, which represents an improvement over traditional mammography and provides shorter compression times, sharper images and less radiation exposure. At CHI Franciscan Health, our breast centers and clinics are taking screening mammography one step further by offering the latest and most advanced 3-D mammography (or tomosynthesis) to women from West Seattle to Des Moines beginning in November. Evidence suggests that 3-D mammography improves cancer detection rates by as much as 40 percent when compared to standard digital mammography. Three-dimensional mammography also reduces call-back rates by as much as 15 percent, which means less anxiety for our patients. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month— the perfect time to schedule your annual mammogram. To make an appointment in Burien, call (206) 248-8900. Visit chifranciscan.org/mammogram for more information.