Dr. Courtney Garlick, the Medical Director of the Mercy Health Comprehensive Breast Center in Muskegon stopped by to talk about the importance of mammograms.
Average-risk women who are 40 years or older should get annual screening mammograms. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or certain genetic alterations, then you may want to talk to your clinician about earlier “high risk” screening options.
Screening mammography has been shown in randomized control trials to decrease a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer by more than 40%. It is the only proven screening tool doctors have, to decrease breast cancer mortality. There is also 3D mammography or tomosynthesis as an option. It’s a newer technique that’s thought to be more accurate, especially for women with dense breasts. 3D mammography increases a radiologist's ability to detect breast cancer and reduces the need to have additional testing following a screening mammogram.
So what can we do to keep ourselves in check? Know what is normal for you and do your monthly self-breast exams to help recognize any changes. In addition, know your personal risk for breast cancer and learn how you can manage that risk. Mercy Health offers the RiskPlus program and genetic counseling to help with this process.
As the only centers of their kind in West Michigan, Mercy Health Comprehensive Breast Centers deliver prompt, personal, specialized care for all aspects of breast health. They focus on total breast health — from screening mammograms and lifetime risk analysis to, if necessary, the latest treatments. To learn more visit MercyHealthFriendsforLife.com or call 616.685.6756 in Grand Rapids or 231.727.7926 along the lakeshore.
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