For Immediate Release:
November 19, 2009

Southcoast experts address new mammogram recommendations

"On November 16, 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) made new recommendations regarding mammograms. Though the recommendations do not have any bearing on the standard guidelines, the widely publicized results have caused great anxiety and confusion among the public. We hope that the following information will clarify this important topic."

— Therese M. Mulvey, MD
Physician-in-Chief & Medical Oncologist
Southcoast Center for Cancer Care

Southcoast Hospitals continues to strongly recommend that women follow the guidelines issued by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society:

• Women in their 40s and older should get a mammogram every year. A woman's chance of getting breast cancer is greater as she ages.

• A clinical breast exam should be part of a woman's annual health exam when they are in their 20s and 30s. Women who are considered high risk should begin having mammograms earlier than 40 years old. The decision about when to begin screening should be based on shared decision-making between patients and their health care providers, taking into account personal circumstances and preferences.

• A breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to a health professional right away. [www.southcoast.org/breast/bse.html]

Additional information can be found online at www.southcoast.org/breast/.

Sources:

• American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

I am 46 years old, should I still get a mammogram?

The recommendations by the USPSTF guidelines released in November 2009 have caused great confusion and anxiety among women. According to the U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration, but policies remain unchanged. Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year. (Please see the above guidelines for more information.)

In a statement issued on November 18, 2009, by Secretary Sebelius: "My message to women is simple: Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years — talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you."

www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091118a.html

If I am in my 40s, is it okay to do a breast self-exam instead of receiving a mammogram?

Women in their 40s should continue to receive annual mammograms. It is also important that women know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new breast changes to a health professional as soon as they are found. A breast self-exam is another method for determining changes in the breast tissue. Decisions about an individual's breast health should be made between patients and their health care providers, taking into account personal circumstances and preferences.

www.southcoast.org/breast/bse.html

What is a digital mammogram? What does it mean when Southcoast says they are "100 percent digital?"

Digital mammography allows us to provide you with the highest quality of care in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Unlike other parts of the body, the breast is composed mainly of soft tissue. When breast tissue is X-rayed, it creates an image that looks something like a smoky haze, making it difficult to see tiny "spots," called microcalcifications, and other subtle signs of early cancer.

With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast using special high-resolution monitors. The physician can adjust the brightness, change contrast and zoom in for close ups of specific areas of interest.

Being able to manipulate images is one of the main benefits of digital technology. Another convenience of digital mammography over film-based systems is it can greatly reduce the need for retakes due to over or under exposure, reducing your exposure to X-rays.

Digital mammography feels identical to conventional screening from a patient's perspective, though women may notice shorter exam times and a reduction in call-backs to obtain additional images.

www.southcoast.org/radiology/digitalmammography.html

100% Digital Mammography

Southcoast Health System has 100 percent digital mammography services at all nine of its mammography service locations from Fall River to Wareham.

Southcoast is the primary provider of breast health services in the region, performing more than 40,000 mammograms a year.

Southcoast patients have access to the most comprehensive digital mammography system with 13 units installed at nine sites in Fall River, North Dartmouth, New Bedford and Wareham. Several of our sites have also been upgraded with other modalities to provide our patients with the most complete breast imaging services available on the South Coast, including digital mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and stereotactic breast biopsies.

Southcoast offers mammography services at its three hospital sites — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham — and at several offsite locations, including the Center for Women's Health at Faunce Corner in North Dartmouth, Truesdale Clinic in Fall River, the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center in New Bedford and several physician offices.

Southcoast Health System health care providers welcome your questions, call a mammography location near you and listed at www.southcoast.org/breast/ or one of the following:

Charlton Memorial Hospital: 508-679-3131 Ext. 7117
St. Luke's Hospital: 508-997-1515 Ext. 2844
Tobey Hospital: 508-273-4141
Center for Women's Health: 508-998-0600