Why a Mammogram Is the Best Way to Find Breast Cancer Early

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Friday, October 16, is National Mammography Day. It’s a good time to ask yourself one simple question: am I up to date on my mammogram?

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray picture of the breast. It can spot changes in breast tissue long before you can ever feel a lump. That head start matters. When breast cancer is found early, while it is still only in the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is 99%. Regular screening also lowers your risk of dying from breast cancer.

So when should you start? The American Cancer Society (and our experts here at Natividad) says women can choose to start yearly screening at 40 and should have one every year. If you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, your doctor may want you to start sooner or get them more often.

“A mammogram is one of the few tests that can find cancer before a patient has any symptoms at all,” said Dr. Soraya Esteva, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Natividad Medical Group. “The women who do best are the ones who simply keep their annual appointments. Ten or 15 minutes, once a year, can change everything.”

Natividad is accredited in Mammography by the American College of Radiology and offers 3D mammography, which reads breast tissue in layers for clearer results and fewer callbacks. Most insurance plans cover screening mammograms with no copay or deductible.

“I love what I do as a technologist and will make your experience as efficient, personable and accommodating as possible,” said Deidra Lanzone, the radiologic technologist who performs most exams at Natividad. “We have a saying in mammography, ‘Early detection is the best protection,’ and I stand fully behind that!”

Don’t wait for a reason. Talk to your provider and schedule your mammogram on time at Natividad. If you need a primary care provider or OB/GYN, contact Natividad Medical Group to find your new doctor at (831) 759-0674.