Remember to get your annual mammogram

Screenings are the best tool for early breast cancer detection

In the United States, one in eight women will get breast cancer during their lifetime, and in New York State it is the most common cancer among women. Nationwide, 40,000 women die of breast cancer every year.

An annual mammogram – an x-ray picture of the breast – is currently the most effective tool we have for detecting breast cancer early. Doing so dramatically improves a woman’s chance of survival. According to two large studies from Norway and Sweden, screenings can lower your risk of dying from breast cancer by as much as 50 percent.

So, I want to equip you with information to make the process of getting a mammogram as unintimidating as possible.

Who should get an annual mammogram?

Recommendations of when to start having routine mammograms and how often vary among experts – but they all agree that mammograms save lives. The American College of Radiologists recommends starting annual screenings at age 40 for women with no known risk factors. If you have specific concerns, you can visit a high-risk breast clinic such as that at Cayuga Health to have your lifetime risk of breast cancer calculated. That can help you make decisions about when and how often to get mammograms.

How can I get a mammogram?

Cayuga Health offers mammography and imaging services at multiple locations in Ithaca, Cortland, and Montour Falls. All locations have state-of-the-art 3D mammography, which can detect breast cancer as small as grains of salt, as well as ultrasound and MRI. You can also call 1-866-442-CANCER (2262) to find locations for breast cancer screening near you. 

You need an order from your doctor to get a mammogram, and the screening is free. We are lucky that in New York State both private and public health insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover breast cancer screening at no cost to the patient by eliminating annual deductibles and co-payments. The New York State Breast Cancer Services Program offers free screenings to women who are uninsured.

What happens during a mammogram?

On the day of the appointment, please don’t wear any deodorant or lotions on or near your breasts, including under your arms. It is fine to get a mammogram if you are breastfeeding, have implants, or are pregnant – but do mention these circumstances to your technologist. Once you arrive, you will change into a gown that opens to the front and remove any jewelry. Inside the imaging room, the technologist will place your breast onto a plastic plate and firmly press down from above with another plate to flatten the tissue and hold it still. She will take two views, one top to bottom and one side to side. After the images have been taken, the process is repeated on the other breast. The pressure may feel slightly uncomfortable, but it does not last for long. Our Cayuga Health radiologists provide imaging interpretations before you leave.

What happens if something unusual shows up in my mammogram?

When the radiologist sees something new or different in the images, the mammogram changes from routine to diagnostic. You may need more imaging or even a biopsy. Our radiologists are available to talk to you in person or on the phone to address any questions or concerns during your imaging appointment. It can be scary to hear that something abnormal or indeterminate was seen, and figuring out the next steps can feel confusing, so as an Imaging Breast Health Nurse Navigator I am here to support you.

How can an Imaging Breast Health Nurse Navigator help me in this process?

The Imaging Breast Health Nurse Navigator is your advocate throughout the imaging process and beyond to treatment if it should be needed. The Navigator’s role is to encourage women to be proactive about having their routine mammogram, and when needed, the Imaging Breast Nurse Navigator will handle coordinating care, including communicating with any doctors involved and even scheduling appointments. She will do teachingteach, answer questions, and help lower anxiety. She manages the moving parts so that women can continue to focus on managing the details of their busy lives and still take care of themselves.

Breast Health webinar on Oct. 24

Cayuga Health is hosting an Interactive Breast Health and Cancer Prevention Webinar at 5:30 p.m. October 24 where you can engage in meaningful conversations about breast health with our expert team, including Dr. Donna Sandidge. Register at https://ow.ly/9PpU50PVi9m.

Diana Hewitt became Cayuga Health’s first Certified Breast Nurse Navigator in 2019. She works in the Cayuga Medical Center imaging department, providing patients with guidance throughout their imaging procedures, educating about breast diseases, coordinating additional tests, ensuring patients understand their physician’s instructions, and linking patients to programs that can assist in their care. She can be reached at (607) 252-3707 or dhewitt@cayugamed.org.