Mammogram

Our breast health team includes a variety of highly qualified providers:

• Certified breast patient navigator
• Dedicated nurse practitioner
• Medical oncologists
• Nurses
• Pathologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Radiologists
• Surgeons
• Technologists

We offer the most advanced breast imaging technology available today, including 3D mammography. Research has shown that 3D mammography is better than digital mammography s for many people. Compared to standard film-based mammograms, 3D mammograms:

• Are better at detecting breast cancer in premenopausal women and in women with dense breasts.
• Are stored on a computer, so they are easy to send to other providers involved with your care.
• Detect more cancers.
• May reduce the occurrence of unnecessary biopsies.
• Produce clearer images and allow the radiologist reading the image to zoom in, magnify and optimize different parts of the breast tissue.

A board-certified radiologist reads every screening mammogram that our team completes. The ImageChecker Computer Aided Detection System then double-checks each mammogram, which serves as an added level of accuracy.

Mammogram: Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.

Clinical breast exam: A clinical breast exam is recommended every three years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women 40 and over.

Breast awareness and breast self-exam: Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is important for women starting in their 20s.

Breast MRI: Less than 2% of all women in the United States should have a screening breast MRI in addition to a mammogram. This recommendation may be due to their family history, a genetic tendency or certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about your history and whether you should have additional tests at an earlier age.

Before scheduling a mammogram, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and other specialty organizations recommend that you discuss any new findings or problems in your breasts with your doctor. In addition, inform your doctor of:

• Any prior surgeries.
• Family or personal history of breast cancer.
• Use of hormones.

If you typically experience tender breasts before or during your period, do not schedule your mammogram for this time. The best time for a mammogram is one week following your period. Always inform your doctor or X-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.

The ACS also recommends:

• Don’t wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the exam. These can appear on the mammogram as calcium spots.
• Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist performing the exam.
• If possible, get prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam.
• Ask when your results will be available. Do not assume the results are normal if you don’t hear from your doctor or the mammography facility.

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) granted accreditation to our Breast Health Center at Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center–Danvers. NAPBC only gives this distinction to centers that voluntarily commit to providing the best possible care to patients.

With our NAPBC accreditation, you can be assured that you’ll receive:

• A multidisciplinary, team approach to coordinate the best care and treatment options available for you.
• Access to breast cancer-related information, education and support.
• Ongoing monitoring and improvement of your care.