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DON’T DELAY YOUR NEXT MAMMOGRAM
Here’s
a pledge that’s well worth making: “I’ll call for an
appointment to talk with my health care provider
about breast cancer screening.”
You might be too busy to get to it today. That’s OK.
So how does tomorrow look?
Regular mammograms can detect cancer in its
early stages and give women a head start on poten-
tially lifesaving treatment. If you have a heightened
risk of breast cancer—for example, if you have very
dense breasts—ask your doctor if you need additional
screening tests, such as an MRI scan.
There are some things that increase your risk for
breast cancer, such as your age or having close rela-
tives with the disease. But at the same time, most
women who get breast cancer don’t have any risk
factors, reports the ACS.
That’s why talking with your provider is so impor-
tant. You can discuss your personal risk and decide
what’s best for you.
Is your 40th birthday around the corner? If so, ask
your provider about beginning regular mammograms
to screen for breast cancer. If you’re overdue for one,
schedule it as soon as possible.
ADVICE FOR YOUNGER WOMEN
Even if you’re in
your 20s or 30s, you can take steps to help protect
yourself. Become familiar with how your breasts look
and feel, and report any changes to your provider.
And be sure to have regular medical visits that in-
clude breast exams by your provider.
Screening can bring peace of mind. If it’s time for
your mammogram, let your primary care provider
know you need an appointment.
Samaritan mammography
aced the test!
Under federal law (MQSA, or Mammography Quality Standards Act),
all facilities that perform mammography must be certified by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration through an organization such as
the American College of Radiology and through the state Depart-
ment of Health.
The state inspects these facilities every year to ensure that
they are practicing quality standards for personnel qualifications,
equipment, radiation dose, quality assurance programs, and record
keeping and reporting. All personnel involved in the production,
processing or interpretations of mammograms are reviewed—
including the mammographic technologists, the interpreting
radiologists and the medical physicist who surveys the equip-
ment annually. The mammography department at Samaritan was
inspected on July 14, 2015, and we have received notice that our
facility passed with no deficiencies.
CARING FOR YOU:
Samaritan mammography staff take pride in providing you with caring, individual-
ized service every time. From left: Bim Lindsey, BSHA, Tamii Brown-Frost, ARRT, Becky Hwang, DO.
It’s a guy thing too
Don’t let the pink fool you; men aren’t
exempt from breast cancer
You probably know guys who
have had a heart attack or
perhaps a stroke. And maybe
even some who have dealt with
prostate cancer. You know these
diseases can affect men. But
what about breast cancer? This
condition is often thought of as
a woman’s disease. (Men get
breast cancer? How’s that even
possible?) But men can—and
do—get breast cancer. Ignoring
the risks for this disease can be
a big mistake.
The information that follows
on breast cancer may not be
on your radar as a man—but it
should be.
Pink may be the color of
breast cancer awareness, but
more than 2,000 men in the
U.S. are diagnosed with the dis-
ease every year, the American
Cancer Society reports.
Men actually have a small
amount of breast tissue, includ-
ing ducts in the breasts where
cancer can develop. Some things
that may raise a man’s risk of
breast cancer include having a
history of radiation exposure to
the chest (such as for treatment
of lymphoma) or a family history
of breast cancer. About 1 out of
5 men with breast cancer has
a close male or female relative
with the disease.
And like some women,
some guys inherit a BRCA gene
mutation that may put them at
high risk for breast cancer. This
genetic risk factor is most often
found in men with a strong family
history of breast or ovarian can-
cer, although it has been found
in men without this family history.
Unfortunately, because most
men don’t realize that they can
get breast cancer, they may
ignore warning signs of the dis-
ease. This may help explain why
men tend to be diagnosed at a
later stage than women, when
breast cancer may be more dif-
ficult to treat.
If you notice any changes to
the breast area of your chest—
such as lumps, swelling, dim-
pling, redness or fluid leaking
from a nipple—play it safe and
let your doctor know.
A gender-neutral move
Being aware of this condition is
the first step in making sure it
doesn’t wreak havoc with your
health. The next step is to make
an appointment with a doctor
if you suspect you have breast
cancer.
Compared to women, many
men skimp on their medical care.
Don’t be one of them. It isn’t
feminine or masculine to see a
doctor on a regular basis—it’s
just a great move for your health.
health
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