Common Breast Questions and Answers

What can you do to detect breast cancer early?

There are four ways to detect breast cancer early.

• Get a mammogram every year. I know you have heard it before, but it is true. Many women do get a mammogram, but not every year. Starting at age 40 the American Cancer Society suggests annual mammograms. The best breast imaging is done when the mammogram is compared to the previous year. Mammograms do not keep you from getting breast cancer, but they do find breast cancer early. Patients who wait years between mammograms and are diagnosed with breast cancer, always ask the question, “could my cancer been found earlier if I would have had my mammogram annually?” We can not answer that question, but that is not a question you ever want to have in the back of your mind.
• Do self breast exam. Fortunately, we can find breast cancer early by mammogram, but a few types of breast cancers are not always easily seen on a mammogram. They are not common types of breast cancer, but having a mammogram and conducing monthly breast exams will decrease the risk of missing any form of breast cancer.
• Have a clinical breast exam once a year conducted by a nurse specializing in breast or a by a physician.
• If warning signs appear, see your physician immediately. Warning signs are listed below.

What should I be looking for when doing a self breast exam?

The following are the usual clinical signs of breast cancer, but all patients do not present the same way. If you do not feel comfortable with something you found on self breast exam, see your physician as soon as possible. You are the best judge of your body and should know it better than anyone.

Breast cancer is usually very hard (like a frozen pea), does not move well, and does not hurt. If it did hurt, there would not be a need for all the different screening methods for breast cancer. Unfortunately, cancer creeps up without a lot of warning. Some late signs of breast cancer are dimpling or indentation of the skin, an orange peel look to the skin, an inverted nipple that had not been inverted before, and sometimes swollen lymph nodes. Breast cancer can even cause a bloody nipple discharge.

Some women say they do not do breast exams because their “entire breast feels lumpy;” however, breast cancer feels different and women almost always find their lumps. Even if the lump does not end up being anything, it is better to do breast imaging than to let it go.

Click here for more information on self breast exam.

Do mammograms hurt?

A good mammogram depends on three integral parts.

• A great technologist specializing in breast imaging.
• State of the art equipment. (St. Mary's North has digital mammography)
• Board Certified Radiologist that reads several mammograms a year.

What if I can not afford a screening mammogram?

St. Mary’s mission statement is to, “Extend the healing hands of Jesus Christ.” Having this mission means we will not turn people away due to not having the funds to pay for a mammogram. St. Mary’s has financial assistance for patients who do not have insurance, and payment plans for all patients. If you feel you may need this type of assistance, please let the registration clerk know on the day of your visit.

How do I prepare for a mammogram?

Do not wear deodorant, lotions or powder under your arms or on the breast. This will disturb your mammogram picture. We ask that you undress from the waist up, so it is best to wear two-piece clothing. Know what hormones you are taking like estrogen or progesterone, and your breast biopsy history.

I do not have a family history of breast cancer, do I still need to get a yearly mammogram?

Yes! Only 15 percent of all women who get breast cancer had a family history of breast cancer. This is a great misunderstanding many women have. Please do not let the fact that you do not have a family history of breast cancer keep you from getting a mammogram and doing a self breast exam. One in seven women will get breast cancer.

Do I need a doctor's order to get a mammogram?

At St. Mary’s, women can call to make an appointment for a routine yearly mammogram without a physicians’ order. However, if you are having breast problems, you need to consult with your physician first.

At what age should I begin having mammograms and how frequently?

A baseline mammogram should be done between the ages of 35-39. Then, at age 40 a screening mammogram should be done every year. Women between the ages of 20 and 40 should be doing self breast exams monthly and clinical breast exams once a year. Your physician may send you earlier than stated above if an abnormality is seen during an exam. Depending on your breast health risk factors, there are also some special circumstances when women should begin their mammograms earlier. Please consult with your physician about when you should get your first mammogram.