Mammograms

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find early breast cancer. When breast cancer is found early, many women will go on to live long and healthy lives.

Coastal Women’s Healthcare supports the following breast cancer screening guidelines:

• Breast self exam every month beginning at age 25
• Annual professional breast examinations beginning at age 25
• A mammogram every year beginning at age 40
• Earlier mammogram for women with strong family history of breast cancer (two 1st generation relative with a history of breast cancer or a family history of genetic mutations BRCA1 and BRCA2).

Be sure to talk to your health professional if you have any symptoms or changes in your breast, or if breast cancer runs in your family. He or she may recommend that you have mammograms before age 40 or more often than usual.

Our facility houses an accredited mammography unit staffed by our own technologists. Films are interpreted by Spectrum Medical Group radiologists, the same physicians who read mammograms at Maine Medical Center.

According to the National Cancer Institute, women now have an average risk of 12.7 percent (often expressed as “1 in 8”) of being diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history. A mammogram doesn’t prevent breast cancer, but it can save lives by finding breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat and chances of survival are higher.

Don't wait. Call our office to schedule one today.

The following list of Web sites includes government health links and resources about breast cancer.

American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Breast Cancer.org
Breast Cancer Support
Breast Cancer Research
Breast Cancer Answers
Avon Breast Cancer Crusade