Solis Mammography believes that when it comes to fighting breast cancer, the best offense is a good defense. Read on for their "playbook" on how mammography and early detection can save a life.
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS - Katy, Texas
October 6, 2017
Solis Mammography & Katy Magazine Editors
October is the perfect time for breast health education
October brings a sea of pink, marking the arrival of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink appears everywhere, from the grocery store to the NFL football field.
With more than 700,000 procedures forecasted this year, Solis Mammography emphasizes October as a time to remind women to be proactive about their breast health. “Simply put, mammography is the closest thing we have to a cure. The difference between early stage diagnosis, which is caught in annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40, and later stage diagnosis is astonishing. Just imagine catching an anomaly at the size of a pea versus the size of a walnut,” said Connie Oliver, vice president of marketing for Solis Mammography.
Since football is in the air, and because Solis Mammography is steadfast in its belief that the best offense in the fight against breast cancer is a great defense (early detection), they created a Breast Health Playbook.
Solis Mammography's Breast Health Playbook
COACH YOURSELF AND OTHER TEAMMATES:
Know the difference between 2-D and 3-D mammography. While conventional 2-D mammography was a significant step forward for its time, it has been dramatically surpassed by the improved technology of 3-D mammography (also known as digital breast tomosynthesis.) It is the best and most advanced technology for early detection of breast cancer. In 2013, peer-reviewed research, co-authored by Solis Mammography’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stephen Rose, demonstrated that 3-D mammography increases early detection of breast cancer by 54 percent and decreases recall rates by 37 percent.
Women should check their insurance plan for 3-D mammography coverage. While Medicare and most private insurance companies now cover 3-D, be sure to ask and make sure. Also, regardless which provider you choose, make sure they offer 3-D mammography screening.
If visiting a new facility, have previous mammography scans sent to them. The films are electronic, and this should be an easy process. At Solis Mammography, they’ll retrieve the records for you, upon request.
While health is important year-round, October is a time to take stock of friends and loved ones – especially those who might be reticent to get their mammogram. Encourage them to get their screening; offer to go with them; and help them understand the benefits of early detection.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
A mammogram in not just a mammogram. In the search for the right provider (because patients DO have a choice), find a facility that is a dedicated to breast screening. Make sure the center is staffed by fellowship-trained or dedicated breast radiologists (radiologists who read a high volume of both screening and diagnostic mammograms). Also ask if they employ “batch reading” (a process of interpreting screening mammograms without interruption, ensuring the most accurate results.) And finally, ask if the radiologist is trained and experienced at reading 3-D mammography.
TIME OUT:
For any exam, it is best to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to prepare. Patients should bring their insurance cards, driver’s license and the name of the physician to whom results should be sent.
Ask the facility when and how patients will be notified of their results. Solis Mammography understands the anxiety that often accompanies waiting for the mammogram result which is why they deliver results via secure email within 24 to 48 hours of your visit.
Solis Mammography recommends women wear a two-piece outfit on the day of their mammogram, as they will be asked to remove their top garments only. The facility will provide women with a wrap or robe to wear.
On the day of the appointment, don’t wear deodorant, antiperspirant, lotion, or perfume. Some of these items contain substances that can show up on the X-ray as white spots. It is recommended for patients to bring these items with them to put on after the mammogram.
THE PLAYBOOK:
Remember, a strong defense is the best offense in the fight against breast cancer. When a woman participates in her breast health by getting regular, annual mammograms, she ensures that should any issue ever be detected, it will be at its smallest possible size and thus easiest to treat. The average size of an anomaly found through annual mammograms is the size of a pea. The average size of an anomaly found through occasional self-exam is the size of a walnut. This size difference can and does have a dramatic impact on both treatment options, cost, and long-term outcome.