Breast Cancer Prevention & Screening

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Mammograms

Houston Methodist Breast Care Centers offer breast care education, support programs, self-care and cancer prevention screenings.

 

All women are at risk for breast cancer, which increases with age. Annual screenings are key to early breast cancer detection.

Our Approach to Breast Cancer Prevention & Screening

Our experts use the latest technology to detect breast cancer before lumps can be felt or cancer symptoms appear. Early breast cancer detection helps provide a woman with more treatment options and increases the possibility of a favorable prognosis.

 

Our Breast Care Centers offer:

  • Advanced 3D mammogram technology to detect the smallest lumps and abnormalities with accuracy
  • Board-certified radiologists with the expertise required for early cancer detection
  • Continuity of care to track your health history over time for early detection
  • Acceptance of most major insurance plans

About Breast Cancer Prevention & Screening

Can You Decrease Your Breast Cancer Risk?

Some factors may decrease breast cancer risk or recurrence, including:

  • Decreased estrogen exposure
  • Medications to reduce estrogen receptivity
  • Medications to inhibit estrogen production
  • Prophylactic mastectomy (breast removal without cancer diagnosis or symptoms)
  • Prophylactic oophorectomy (ovary removal without cancer diagnosis or symptoms)
  • Eating a healthy diet, which includes eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, choosing whole grains over refined, consuming calcium and avoiding fatty foods
  • Regularly exercising
  • Not smoking
  • Moderate alcohol consumption

What Is a Clinical Breast Exam?

You can improve your chances of catching breast cancer early through breast self-exams and clinical breast exams.

Regularly checking your breasts allows you to become familiar with how they normally look and feel. You will be more likely to notice symptoms of breast cancer, including:

  • Lumps, hard knots or thickening inside the breast or underarm
  • Breast swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
  • Breast size or shape changes
  • Skin dimpling or puckering
  • An itchy, scaly nipple sore or rash
  • Nipple or breast inversion or retraction
  • Sudden nipple discharge
  • New pain in one spot that does not go away

 

A clinical breast exam should be part of your annual well-woman checkup and performed by your doctor.

What Is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is a breast X-ray that can show small, early-stage cancers. High-quality digital screening mammography is the most effective tool to detect breast cancer before lumps can be felt or cancer symptoms appear. Early breast cancer detection helps provide a woman with more treatment options and increases the possibility of a favorable prognosis.

 

Radiation exposure during a mammogram is low, about the equivalent of a dental X-ray. Mammography can be uncomfortable or painful for some women, but adjustments can be made to reduce your pain.

 

Types of Mammography and Imaging We Provide

We perform screening and diagnostic mammograms depending on a patient’s medical history and breast symptoms.

  • 3-D mammogram (breast tomosynthesis) – highly efficient and accurate digital technology used to identify smaller tumors sooner for earlier breast cancer detection
  • Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – an extremely sensitive test to look for breast cancer indicators using magnetic fields to view the body. It also may be used for breast cancer treatment planning and performing an MRI biopsy.
  • Molecular breast imaging (MBI) – a technique used to identify tumors in dense breasts
  • Breast ultrasounds – imaging that can determine if a lump or mass is filled with fluid

Houston Methodist provides mammograms and breast care at the following convenient locations: