This segment is sponsored
by Fairfax Radiology.
While death rates are falling,
we still want to make sure
that you are informed.
Guidelines on mammograms
are constantly changing,
so we sat down with Doctor Elise
Berman from Fairfax Radiology
centers to talk about why it's
important to get a mammogram.
Doctor Berman, thank you so
much for having us here.
What is the guidelines now
when it comes to mammogram?
Who should be getting them?
When should they be getting them?
That's a really excellent question
because there has been some confusion and
some conflicting information out there.
So the societies and the organizations
that have breast imaging experts on
their panel recommends starting to get
a mammogram at the age of 40 and having
a mammogram every there year after,
and in fact every society,
including the United States.
Preventive Service Task Force agrees
that most lives are saved when
mammograms start at the age of 40 and
are performed every year thereafter.
We were also
taught to do self breast exams,
so where does that fall in
now with the guidelines?
So guidelines are sometimes
changing and it used to be that we
would do self exams every month.
Now the recommendation
is to know your breast.
So what does that mean?
It know what's normal for you,
how your breast changes throughout the month
if you notice something that's different.
A lamp or a thickening or a change in
your skin or something under your arm.
You should let your doctor know about that,
OK? And when it comes to a mammogram,
I know some women are can be
fearful of them, but they save
lives and they're super important.
So what can somebody expect when they
come in for a mammogram? Does it hurt?
So that's a really good question.
And when we do a mammogram,
we really need to put the breast into
a little bit of compression because
that gives us the best picture.
And generally it's really
well tolerated most people.
Don't have too much of a problem with that.
Some people do have some mild discomfort,
and really some people might
have a little bit of pain.
The important thing to know is that
it's really critical to have that
compression for a good mammogram.
You can let the technologist know she's
specially trained to work with you and
the compression lasts for just seconds,
and then as soon as the picture is taken,
the compression will let
up and then it goes away.
So just a few seconds could save lives
because early detection is obviously
of the utmost importance. Exactly. OK.
And so when it comes to mammograms,
is it important where somebody
goes to get their mammogram?
I think that's one of the most
important questions that you can
ask before you get your mammogram.
And the answer is yes,
because all mammograms are not the same.
So we've seen and we know that who
interprets your mammogram is important.
People who have special training,
who do a lot of breast imaging tend to
have better cancer detection rates.
So it's very important to know,
is the facility that you're going
to affiliated with or are they a
breast imaging center of excellence,
that's a special accreditation by
the American College of Radiology.
And who are the doctors at that
practice at that facility who
are reading the mammograms?
Is that people who do spine xrays
and brain CT's or is it people
who spend all their time every
day working with breast patients
and that's what you all do here.
I mean that is the sole focus.
Exactly. So I'm really fortunate
because I have 19 colleagues
here and all we do all day,
every day is breast from
screening to diagnosis to biopsy.
And it's, it's really a very special
place to work with people who care
so much about these patients.
What are the other hard questions
that your patient should be asking?
I think a good question is what does it
mean if I'm called back after a screening
mammogram and if you are called back
offered after a screening mammogram,
it means we need some more information.
So you'll come back, we'll do some extra.
Pictures, we might do an ultrasound
and we'll be able to give you the
results of that study immediately.
And then how does it work here with
guiding the patient through from coming,
checking in to getting the mammogram.
So we want to make sure that
you all that you have the
most comfortable experience.
And so when you have your mammogram,
if it's a diagnostic mammogram,
the radiologist is looking at it as you're
having your mammogram being performed.
If it's a diagnostic mammogram,
we give you the results immediately
after the study. Is over.
If it's a screening mammogram,
you're in and out in 1520 minutes,
and you get your results
very quickly thereafter.
So coming in for a diagnostic,
you get your results and there
isn't that waiting period.
Exactly. Exactly. We'll do everything
that you need before you go.
And if you are one of those
few people who need a biopsy,
we will help you.
We will take care of you.
We'll get you scheduled for that procedure.
We will let your doctor know about it.
You don't have to worry about
any of that part of it. Well,
Doc, thank you so much.
It's such important work.
We appreciate you sharing.
All of this with us today.
It's been my pleasure. Thank you so much.
To schedule a mammogram online,
just go to fairfaxradiology.com
or you can call to make an
appointment. The number is
703-485-9628.