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    Digital Mammography

    Potentially Life-Saving Screenings
    That’s why we’re here.

    When it comes to breast cancer, early detection saves lives. And the best technology for early detection is digital imaging called 3D mammography, available at Livingston Regional Hospital. Our GE Healthcare Senographe Pristina mammography system uses advanced technology to take images of each breast from different angles. These images are then combined to create a more complete, accurate picture for a doctor to analyze.

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    Benefits of 3D Mammography

    3D mammograms allow us to detect breast cancer earlier and more effectively than traditional 2D mammograms, and significantly earlier than relying on the sense of touch. A 3D mammogram can detect tiny, early-stage cancers, and early detection means earlier, more effective treatment. In addition, the higher accuracy of 3D mammograms – especially important for patients with dense breast tissue or at high risk of breast cancer – results in more accurate detection and fewer false positives (the latter means fewer return visits to your doctor). Every mammogram image at Livingston Regional is analyzed by a radiologist with advanced training in breast imaging.

     
     
     

    Nervous? That's normal.

    It's common to feel a bit anxious about getting a mammogram, particularly if it's your first. The professional and compassionate technicians at Livingston Regional will patiently guide you through the process, step by step, gladly answering all your questions along the way.

    Lowering the risk

    Aside from getting a mammogram at the frequency recommended below, there are other steps you can take that may help lower your risk for breast cancer. These steps include:

    • Exercising regularly
    • Limiting alcohol use
    • Maintaining a healthy body weight
    • Breastfeeding (women who breast-feed their children for several months or do not use post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT) may reduce their breast cancer risk)
     
     

    The Importance of Mammograms

    Livingston Regional OB-Gyns encourage self-breast exams as a second line of defense against breast cancer. A mammogram is the first line of defense because by the time we can feel a lump in our breasts, a cancerous tumor could have grown larger and even spread beyond the breast into other areas of the body. Regular mammograms help detect small tumors at a much earlier stage – sometimes years before we can feel them – which significantly increases the opportunity for successful treatment.

    Historically, as the number of women who have regular mammograms has increased, the prevalence of breast cancer has decreased. And we’ve got a way to go. Breast cancer is still one of the top killers of women in the United States. It is the most common cancer among women, behind skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

     
     

    More Breast Cancer Facts

    • American Caucasian women develop breast cancer more often than African American, Native American, or Asian women.
    • Your risk increases if you have a family history of breast cancer. This is true if there are relatives on either the maternal or paternal sides who have been affected. Risk is higher if multiple relatives have had breast cancer, if the relatives are "first-degree" relatives – mother, sister, daughter – and if the relatives were diagnosed at a pre-menopausal age.
    • Studies suggest that the longer a woman is exposed to estrogen, the more likely she is to develop breast cancer. This includes estrogen made by the body, taken as a drug, or delivered by a patch. Also at increased risk are women who began their periods before age 12, never had children, took hormone replacement therapy for long periods of time, or experienced menopause after age 55.
    • The average patient's age with a new breast cancer diagnosis is 62. Risk rises after age 40, which is why annual mammograms are recommended by the American Cancer Society for women over the age of 40.
    • Women who have had breast cancer in one breast face an increased risk of getting cancer in the other breast. This is particularly true when breast cancer genetic risk is inherited.
    • Women who have their first child after age 30 have a greater risk.
     
     
    Note saying Don't forget your mammogram

    Schedule Your Mammogram Today

    Women at average risk for breast cancer should begin getting mammograms at age 40 and have one annually beginning at age 45. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate screening frequency for you.

    In addition to regular business hours, mammography screenings are offered until 6 p.m. on non-holiday Tuesdays and Thursdays.

    A physician’s order is NOT required for a mammogram at Livingston Regional. To make an appointment today, call 931.403.2333 or submit the form below.

     
     

    Next Steps

     

    Schedule Your Mammogram

    Self-referrals are welcome. No physician referral is necessary.
     

    Call: 931.403.2333

    Take a Breast Health Assessment

    Answer a few questions to determine your level of risk for breast cancer.
     

    Assess My Risk

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