When Should I Get a Mammogram?
You’re a woman who takes pride in caring for her health. Besides eating right and exercising, making an annual trip to the doctor for preventative breast cancer screenings should be a top priority in staying in tiptop shape. Yearly mammograms are a safe, effective way to make sure you are cancer-free and to detect abnormalities early before it becomes a greater health concern.
What is a Mammogram?
Mammograms are a highly specialized kind of breast imaging that utilizes a low dose of x-rays to screen for cancer. They are the single best tool in detecting very small abnormalities in breast tissue well before you or your doctor notice any outward symptoms. This fact makes mammograms an effective tool at catching breast cancer early when it most treatable.
Getting a mammogram can be a lifesaver. Consider these facts:
- One in eight women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis.
- Three in four women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors or family history of the disease.
- One in six women will be diagnosed with breast cancer while in her 40s.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Almost all medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American College of Radiology, and the Society of Breast Imaging recommend that women begin yearly breast cancer screenings at age 40. Depending on your personal health history and risk factors, your doctor may suggest starting screenings earlier. Early and regular mammograms are proven to drastically reduce the death rate for women with breast cancer.
What Does a Mammogram at PURE Entail?
At PURE Mammography, we use 3D breast imaging, which is an advanced mammography technique that allows doctors to examine breast tissue one layer at a time. The system utilizes a high-powered computer system that transfers digital breast images into a series of thin layers for a physician to review. There is no additional breast compression during 3D mammograms, and it only takes a few seconds longer to complete.
More than 100 studies have shown that 3D mammography is more effective than standard mammography in delivering accurate results the first time. This new technique reduces false positives more than 40 percent of time over conventional 2D procedures. 3D mammography has been hailed as the best breakthrough in cancer screening in over 30 years.
For the patient, 3D mammograms are very similar to the 2D conventional procedure. A technician will place your breast tissue between paddles, compress the tissue, and take x-ray images from several different angles. During 3D mammograms, an x-ray device sweeps over the breast in a slightly circular motion while recording many images in just seconds. The radiologist will then review the breast tissue images in a series of one-millimeter layers, which offers the most detailed, comprehensive image of the breast.
For the most accurate results, you should not wear deodorant, antiperspirant or powder during your mammogram. These substances interfere with the images by making the x-rays blurry, or by showing up as false micro calcifications that mimic the look of abnormalities.
What Makes PURE Different from Other Mammogram Providers?
At PURE Mammography, we go the extra mile in making our patients feel comfortable and pampered in our state-of-the-art, spa-like facility. We’re conveniently located inside the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove on Long Island. Unlike at most mammography centers, we have flexible, extended hours and don’t require an appointment. Walk-ins are always welcome so that you can fit a mammogram into your busy schedule.
Our exam rooms have large screen televisions with surround sound speakers that immerse you in calming sensory experience of your choice. With beaches, tropical rainforests or beautiful gardens available to choose from during your exam, you’re less likely to feel fear or anxiety during your mammogram.
When you need your yearly mammogram, PURE Mammography will be ready and waiting to see you. If you’d rather make an appointment, call us at 631-652-3424 or fill out our pre-schedule appointment form on our website today.