Breast Cancer Awareness Month is officially over, but as the manager of the Kupferle Comprehensive Breast Center at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, it’s ongoing. For those of us who work in the breast center, spreading awareness is an everyday priority.
Regular screening mammograms are an important weapon in the fight against breast cancer. At the Kupferle Comprehensive Breast Center we follow the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Guidelines for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer which are:
· Yearly mammograms for women starting at age 40 and continuing as long as a woman is in good health.
· Clinical breast exam every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
· Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
· ACS recommends that some women -- because of their family history, a genetic tendency and other factors -- be screened with MRI in addition to mammograms. Talk with your doctor about your history and whether you should have additional tests at an earlier age.
It is also important to have your screening mammogram at a healthcare facility you trust with your life, because mammograms save lives. When choosing a mammogram facility, take a moment to ask yourself “what if?”
“What if they find something during my mammogram?”
“What if I have breast cancer?”
At the Kupferle Comprehensive Breast Center, if something is found during your screening mammogram, you are not alone. If it turns out to be breast cancer, you are not alone. If you have questions or need guidance from people who have been through breast cancer, you are not alone. We are here with the support through your journey from beginning to end.
Lesley Kibel, RN
Manager Kupferle Comprehensive Breast Center
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