By Dr. Scott Lind, surgical oncologist
MCG Cancer Center 

Unfortunately, screening rates for annual mammograms are falling off.

A woman has a one in seven chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. The best weapon to help beat this risk is an annual mammogram, combined with breast health awareness.

Here’s what women need to do:

At age 20: Start checking your breasts every month to look for any abnormalities in or under the skin. Ask your doctor to check your breasts every three years.

The result: You start developing a memory for what is normal for you, so if abnormalities arise, you recognize them early.

At age 40: Start having annual mammograms and also have your doctor check your breasts annually. Continue breast self-checks each month.

The result: As we age, we are at greater risk for cancer. Mammograms continue to be the best way to find cancers in the breast.

If you are at high risk: Women ages 30 or younger with a close family history or who are otherwise at high risk of breast cancer should have an annual MRI screening along with a mammogram.

The result: MRI screening has been found to be effective in identifying breast cancer in high-risk patients. An MRI is not recommended for patients with a normal risk for breast cancer because it is more sensitive and has a higher false-positive ratio.

Screening is a simple and effective tool to help fight cancer. Many more treatment options exist and the chance for a cure is much higher when any cancer is found early. If you are 40 or older, or if you are at high risk for breast cancer, make mammograms your weapon of choice in fighting breast cancer. By doing so, this is a fight we can all win. 

MCG Health System is composed of three organizations - MCG Health Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group.  MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services.  MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia, and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for delivering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.  For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.