Mel says she’s at that time where she has to start thinking about getting her first mammogram. She says she was hesitant and scared to get a mammogram. She said she was anxious because a mammogram screens for cancer, but she said, “she womened up” and did it. After it was done she said “that was pretty easy.”
Dr. Marie Quinn, from the breast imaging department at Roswell Comprehensive Cancer says the mammogram is really the only test that has proven to reduce a women’s risk of dying from breast cancer. She goes on to say that at Roswell they follow the national comprehensive cancer network or the NCCN guidelines that recommends yearly screening mammograms beginning at age 40 and this for women of average risk. When asked how do you know if you are normal risk or considered high risk. Dr. Quinn says most women are average risk. If you do have multiple family members who have had breast cancer; if you at increased risk they also have a high risk program at Roswell and you can you go online and enter risk assessment and they will let you know if you are a high risk. Is race a factor? Dr. Quinn says they do know that African-American women do have an increased risk of dying from breast cancer and do develop more aggressive breast cancers. It is important for all women to know their risk and it is important that we talk about it.
They have all the latest technology at Roswell; all 3D mammograms. Dr. Quinn says most mammograms are normal but if they need to do need to recommend a biopsy, they can do any type of biopsy procedure right there at Roswell. She says it’s nice having all the equipment there; all the latest technology which she says has gotten so much better even in the last ten years. It’s a much better experience for the patients.
Once you’ve the mammogram screening is done you don’t have to wait around. They will call you with the results the next day. You don’t need a prescription. Talk to your doctor for a recommendations or you can go online to book your appointment at RoswellPark.org/womens health.
1-800-ROSWELL (767-9355)
