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Breast cancer is not the leading health threat to women.
Heart disease is actually far deadlier for women. Nationwide, breast cancer causes
1 in 31 female deaths every year. But coronary heart disease causes 1 in 8 female deaths.
And looking only at cancer deaths, lung cancer kills more women in the U.S. than breast cancer.
Most breast cancer is not inherited.
Only about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers appear to develop directly from gene defects—such as
those in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene—passed on from a parent.
What’s more, even a family history of breast cancer is not as concerning as many women might fear. While having a close relative with
breast cancer does raise your risk, less than 15 percent of women who get breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
A preventive mastectomy doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of breast cancer.
Some women who are at high risk for getting breast can-
cer opt to have both breasts removed to avoid the disease. A preventive mastectomy can, in fact, reduce the risk of developing breast cancer
by 90 percent or more. But some risk still remains, since even a mastectomy can’t remove all breast tissue.
Dense breasts are a risk.
Women with dense breasts—breasts with more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fatty tissue—have up to twice
the risk of breast cancer as a woman with average breast density. Dense breasts may also make mammograms less accurate.
Ask your doctor if your breasts are considered dense—you can’t tell by touching them. If the answer is yes, the two of you can discuss
whether you need additional imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or MRI.
The effects of a fatty diet aren’t clear.
Many studies indicate that breast cancer is less common in countries where the typical diet is low in
fat. But so far studies haven’t found a definitive link between higher fat diets, like those eaten in the U.S., and breast cancer.
Sources: American Cancer Society; National Cancer Institute
Samaritan Healthcare is proud to announce the arrival of
low-dose Genius 3-D Mammography at Samaritan Hospital.
This new service offers hundreds of women across Grant
County enhanced mammogram exams.
In a conventional mammogram, overlapping tissue can
hide breast cancers and normal breast tissue may appear
abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. 3-D mammo-
gram exams are an advanced type of digital mammogram
that offer better cancer detection, fewer callbacks, minimal
compression time and greater peace of mind at a dose
comparable to a conventional digital mammogram. They en-
able doctors to more clearly see through overlapping tissue
to detect cancers, often at an earlier stage.
Why they’re better
Large clinical studies have
demonstrated the positive benefits of 3-D mammography
exams, including:
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Earlier detection of small breast cancers that may be hid-
den in a conventional mammogram.
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Greater accuracy in pinpointing size, shape and location
of abnormalities.
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Fewer additional biopsies or tests.
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Greater likelihood of detecting multiple breast tumors.
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Clearer images of dense breast tissue.
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Three-dimensional exam performance at a radiation
dose no higher than that required for a conventional
2-D mammogram.
Low-dose Genius 3-D Mammography is recommended for
women of all ages and breast densities.
Don’t skip your exam!
“It’s important to get
screened and screened early,” says Krystel Schafer, mam-
mography coordinator of Samaritan’s Women’s Imaging
Center. “This technology is saving lives. It catches cancer
early, before it travels to the rest of the body.”
The new equipment also allows Samaritan to do more
complex procedures—such as specialized biopsies—in
Moses Lake, as opposed to having to send patients out of the
area. This allows women to go through invasive procedures
with familiar people in a more comfortable atmosphere.
Samaritan Healthcare is committed to the fight against
breast cancer. By offering 3-D mammography exams,
Samaritan provides the latest and most effective imaging tool
for breast cancer screening. Samaritan follows the Afford-
able Care Act regulations, which allow for all women
age 40 or over to receive an annual screening mammogram.
If you have questions or concerns regarding insurance
coverage for your 3-D mammography exam, please contact
your insurance provider or ask our friendly staff when you
call to schedule. To schedule an exam, please contact
Samaritan Healthcare Central Scheduling at
793-9651
.
3 dimensions,
3 times the certainty
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