Why Should Women Prioritize Annual Mammograms
10/28/2024
When it comes to health, scheduling a regular mammogram is one of the most impactful steps women of a certain age can take for early breast cancer detection. Julie McCain, the mammography manager at Crestwood Medical Center’s women’s center, sheds light on why annual mammograms are so crucial.
“I’m often asked, ‘Why do I need to come in, and why do I have to come every year?’” says McCain. “And what we can never stress enough is: early detection.”
Annual mammograms are designed to catch breast cancer in its earliest stages, long before any symptoms may appear or a lump can be felt.
“The goal of a mammogram is to find breast cancer in its earliest stages,” explains McCain. “And oftentimes, this means trying to find a breast cancer before it’s felt, before it’s a palpable lump, and before it causes any problems for the patient.”
The importance of yearly mammograms lies in their ability to track even the smallest changes in breast tissue over time, which might otherwise go unnoticed.
“The radiologist is going to look back at a patient’s prior mammograms for 1 or 2 years before,” McCain notes. “If you don’t come in on an annual basis, subtle breast tissue changes won’t be noticed until there is a big, obvious change, and sometimes when it’s a developed cancer.”
For women ready to take charge of their breast health, scheduling a mammogram at Crestwood Medical Center’s women’s center is a simple step. “Patients can call and schedule themselves. That number is (256) 429-4700, right here to the women’s center,” McCain says.
Annual mammograms are a vital tool for early detection—an action that could make all the difference for you or someone you love.
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