Covenant Health Breast Centers
At Covenant Health Breast Centers, our team of experts provide individualized, compassionate breast care to women of all ages and in all walks of life. Advanced imaging, breast MRIs and breast ultrasounds are more convenient than ever before with 10 breast centers located across our region. Many of our centers now offer 3D mammography, which allows your doctor to detect cancer sooner – even with dense breast tissue. Because when it comes to treating cancer, early detection is key.
Breast Cancer Statistics
According to the American Cancer Society:
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in woman in the United States, except for skin cancers.
- Breast cancer makes up 30% of new female cancers annually.
- It is estimated that over 350,000 new cases of breast cancer in women will be diagnosed in 2023 in the United States.
- The median age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis is 62.
Three Tips for Healthy Breasts
- Monthly Breast Self-Exams. Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month, checking for changes, lumps or abnormalities.
- Clinical Breast Exams. Women ages 25 – 39 with no symptoms should have clinical breast exams every one to three years. Women 40 and older should have breast exams performed annually.
- Mammograms. The American College of Radiology recommends that women receive annual mammograms at age 40 to increase the chances of finding the cancer early.
Why You Should Get a Mammogram
Screening mammograms are recommended annually for women over the age of 40. They take roughly 30 minutes to complete and you receive your results in days.
Covenant Health offers 3D mammograms which allow radiologists to see around and in between breast tissue, including dense tissue. This helps detect smaller cancers early and has no more radiation than a traditional mammogram.
Our breast centers also use artificial intelligence to compare your mammogram to thousands of known breast abnormalities in its database, which better detects cancer and improves detection rates.
Diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds are also available if you receive an abnormal screening, have new changes or issues with your breasts, or if findings from the screening mammogram need clarification.
When to See a Doctor
Don’t wait for your annual mammogram or visit with your primary care provider if you suspect something is wrong! If you experience any of the following, contact your physician:
- Detect a lump during a breast self-exam
- Have breast pain that lasts several weeks, is sudden or severe, is in only one breast, worsens with time, interferes with daily activities or changes the skin texture
- Experience redness or warmth on the breast
- Have nipple discharge
Covenant Health Breast Centers are ready to care for you. Schedule your screening mammogram appointment today by calling 865-541-4500 – no physician referral required!