Mammography

Individualized Care Using a Team Approach to Breast Health

The Breast Health Centers provide individualized, quality breast health care. We care for you from the moment you come in for a screening exam through your entire breast health journey.

Our approach ensures you receive the most comprehensive risk assessment based on your individual and family medical history. You will undergo the most appropriate screening and diagnostic care without the burden of unnecessary tests.

What is mammography?

Mammography — Screening and Diagnostic

Women age 40 and older should have an annual mammogram.

Mammography is a screening exam that helps detect masses and calcifications before a physician or patient can feel them. Traditional 2D mammography includes two views of each breast from above and from the side.

Our staff performs diagnostic mammography on patients who have a current problem such as pain, lump, nipple discharge or skin changes.

Three-dimensional (3-D) mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, is the latest mammogram technology for breast cancer screening. It can better differentiate a cancer from overlying glandular tissue. This increases cancer detection and decreases chances of a “false positive,” which is a result that indicates that a given condition is present when it is not.

About Breast Exams & Mammograms

Your breast tissue changes throughout your life. Sometimes, the changes are simple responses to hormones during the menstrual cycle or from the natural effects of aging. 

Because of these changes, you or your physician might detect a lump through touch or mammography.

Although eight out of 10 lumps are not cancerous, it is important that a physician or health care professional further examines these areas of concern. 

Breast cancer remains the No. 1 cancer diagnosed in women. The American Cancer Society predicts that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but early diagnosis and treatment result in a survival rate of more than 95 percent!

The three methods of early detection are monthly breast self-exams, annual clinical breast examinations by a health care professional and mammograms.

• Breast Self-Exam(BSE) Since the signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women, it is important to know how your breasts normally look and feel. If you notice any change, see your health care provider.
• Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) A CBE should be a part of every yearly health exam for women 20 years and older. During the exam, your doctor or nurse will carefully feel your breasts and under your arms to check for lumps and other changes. During the CBE, your health care provider can show you the correct way to perform a breast self-exam.
• Mammography is the only test known that lowers a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer.

Your Mammogram Exam

Preparing for Your Mammogram

If you have undergone a previous mammography, please tell the office when scheduling your appointment. This way, your past and current exams can be compared to assess any changes to your breast tissue. Provide as much information as you can about your previous breast exams, including mammography dates and locations, other breast imaging tests, biopsies and/or treatments.

Please arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time for registration. Registration will require a photo ID, insurance cards and any orders from your physician. On the day of your exam, do not wear deodorant, lotion, creams, talcum or baby powder under your arms or on your breasts.

After the exam, one of our radiologists will interpret your results. We will send a copy of your report to your referring physician in one to two business days. A delay may occur if mammograms from non-Lee Health centers are needed for comparison.

You should expect to receive a letter from our facility about your results within two weeks.

Please contact our scheduling department at 239-349-3182 if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

What if something abnormal is found during my mammogram?

The purpose of the mammogram is to detect abnormalities in the breast tissue. Abnormalities are found in approximately 6 to 8 percent of women who have screening mammograms. If your results suggest an abnormality, you will require more evaluation, which may include diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, MRI, and possibly a biopsy.

If you require more tests, our office will contact you by telephone or mail. Remember, most of the abnormalities found on a mammogram are not breast cancer.

More About the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment

This tool may not provide precise risk assessment for women with a medical history of breast cancer, DCIS, or LCIS. For those with known mutations in genes like BRCA1 or BRCA2, or other hereditary syndromes linked to increased breast cancer risks, alternative tools may offer better accuracy.

Quick Points about the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool:

• While this tool can estimate a patient's risk accurately, it cannot predict precisely who will develop breast cancer. See Other Risk Assessment Tools for more information.
• It's worth noting that some women with higher risk estimates may never develop breast cancer, while others with lower estimates may be diagnosed.
• Designed primarily for healthcare professionals, it's advised that non-professionals print their results and discuss them with their provider.
• The answers provided help estimate the absolute risk of developing invasive breast cancer over the next 5 years and up to age 90 (lifetime risk). Factors considered include the patient's personal medical and reproductive history, as well as the breast cancer history among their first-degree relatives. Additionally, the tool provides risk estimates for a woman of similar age and race/ethnicity who is at average risk for developing breast cancer, aiding in comparison and understanding.

Other Types of Breast Imaging

Ultrasound

Ultrasound evaluates breast tissue by using sound waves instead of radiation to produce an image of the breast. Ultrasound is particularly valuable in determining the difference between a cyst (fluid-filled mass) and a tumor (solid mass).

Breast MRI

Breast MRI is available for women at increased risk for breast cancer. This provides detailed images that can detect small tumors. The MRI also examines lymph nodes in the underarm, an area often difficult to assess, and provides guidance for MRI biopsies of the breast. For premenopausal women, the best timing for breast MRI is day 7-15 of the menstrual cycle (day 1 is defined as the first day of bleeding).

Osteoporosis Screening / Bone Densitometry

Bone density testing is one of the most effective ways to assess your risk for developing osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break. The Breast Health Centers offer DEXA osteoporosis scanning of your bones. This non-invasive test provides early detection of osteoporosis for treatment, which may help you avoid the most serious consequences of osteoporosis.