At Grace & Heart, we offer three-dimensional (3D) mammography because it provides a better image than traditional mammography and is more precise in detecting breast cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in American women. In addition, our mammograms are interpreted by a board-certified radiologist who specializes in reading mammograms and is therefore highly practiced at reviewing images of breast tissue specifically.

3D mammography is especially helpful for women with dense breast tissue, which can hide small masses when using standard 2D mammography. In general, 3D mammography enables doctors to detect breast cancer earlier, catch more cancers, and determine a cancer’s size better than conventional mammography. It also reduces the chances of the doctor seeing a false positive, so you are less likely to be called back for further diagnostics, which can be unnecessarily stressful and time-consuming.
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One of the big advantages of our practice is that you can have your 3D mammogram on-site, the same day as your doctor’s appointment. You won’t have to book an appointment anywhere else. Being able to have her mammogram performed at the same time as her annual examination increases the patient’s compliance, which means she is more likely to have the recommended screening done in a timely fashion. This decreases the risk of missing an opportunity to detect an early breast cancer.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women at average risk of breast cancer have a screening mammogram every year or two beginning at age 40 and continue regular screening until age 75. If you have a family history of breast cancer or are at a high risk, talk to your Grace & Heart provider about when to begin screenings and how frequently to have them.

We encourage our patients to follow ACOG guidelines because they save lives. In fact, advances in mammography and breast cancer treatment have led to a 30% decrease in deaths from breast cancer since 1990.

The most common question women ask us about mammograms is, ” Does it hurt?” The answer to this question varies from patient to patient, but most patients feel a varying amount of pressure across the breast during the mammogram.

The expert ob-gyns at Grace & Heart are here to answer your questions about mammograms and breast cancer screening. To learn more about breast cancer screening, you can always call (863) 382-2229 to schedule an appointment.

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