Guidelines
for Breast Cancer Screening
New
breast cancer screening guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society
reinforce the recommendation that women begin annual mammograms at age 40.
A review of recent scientific findings and developments show that mammography
is the only screening method that has been consistently proven to reduce
deaths from breast cancer.
Breast cancer screening guidelines recommend that women in their 20s and
30s have a breast exam as part of their regular health examination. Women
ages 40 and older should have a breast exam, in addition to a mammogram,
every year.
"Women need to become familiar with how their breasts look and feel,
and promptly report any changes to their healthcare provider," explains
Jeani Thomas, OLBH Mobile Health Center director and nurse practitioner.
"This is imperative to early detection of changes in breast tissue
that may be due to disease."
Thomas notes that older women and women at an increased risk of breast cancer
- those who smoke or have a family history of breast cancer - should continue
having annual mammograms. "Unless it has been recommended by your physician,
every woman ages 40 and older and without increased risk factors, needs
to have an annual mammogram," Thomas added. "Women who are at
high risk of developing breast cancer should talk with their doctor about
earlier and more frequent mammography screenings."
Additionally, breast screening recommendations indicate that women at high
risk of developing breast cancer may benefit from further examinations such
as a breast ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
"Women should not put off breast cancer screenings," stresses
Thomas. "Medicare and most private insurance companies cover annual
mammography screenings and low-income, uninsured women may receive help
from the Kentucky Homeplace regional office located in Grayson, or from
the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program."
For more information about breast cancer screenings, please call the CareLine
at (606) 833-CARE (2273). To schedule a mammogram to be
performed by one of Our Lady of Bellefonte's certified technologists, please
call (606) 833-3926 or toll-free at 800-977-8378.
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