Breast cancer is a serious concern, affecting one in eight women during their lifetime. At Endeavor Health, our mission is to detect it early, giving women the best chance for a long, healthy life while reducing the need for treatments that may impact their quality of life. Early screening is a powerful tool that saves lives and it's vital that women understand its importance. We're committed to ensuring every woman is informed and encouraged to prioritize her health through regular screenings.
What Age to Start Breast Cancer Screening
Evidence shows that starting breast cancer screening at age 40 can be life-saving. By beginning annual screenings at 40, women significantly reduce mortality rates and maximize early detection benefits.
For those with a family history of breast cancer, such as a mother or sister, we encourage speaking with a primary care physician, such as an OB/GYN or internal medicine doctor to determine the best time to begin screening. Early access to screening is especially critical for women at higher risk. At Endeavor Health, we offer consultations and counseling to help women assess their risk and tailor screenings, ensuring cancers are detected as early as possible.
Breast Tissue Density
Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening, providing a crucial 3D image that reveals calcifications and the earliest signs of cancer. Thanks to this life-saving test, breast cancer mortality has dropped by 40%, giving women the chance to turn cancer into just a chapter in their story and move forward to live a healthy, fulfilling life.
One factor that can complicate early detection is dense breast tissue, which affects 40% of women. This type of tissue is more fibrous and glandular than the typical fatty tissue, making it more challenging to detect cancer through mammograms. Additionally, women with dense breast tissue face a higher risk of developing breast cancer. At Endeavor Health, we’re here to ensure every woman understands her unique screening needs and gets the best care possible.
At Endeavor Health, we are proud to have pioneered the use of ABUS technology, the first FDA-approved ultrasound specifically designed to detect cancer in dense breast tissue. We’ve performed the largest volume of these cases worldwide and led extensive research in this area, helping women with dense breast tissue get the care they need.
In September 2024, the FDA began requiring that all women be notified of their breast density following a mammogram. This important step empowers women to understand their breast density and its implications for their health. I personally played a key role in passing similar legislation in Illinois in 2019. We believe every woman deserves to be fully informed and able to ask for supplemental screening when necessary.
Breast density is ranked from a to d, with c and d indicating dense breast tissue. You'll get this information in your mammogram report and follow-up letter, so you can easily schedule any necessary supplemental exams. It’s vital that these supplemental screenings are covered by insurance. We are actively supporting the Find It Early Act in Congress to ensure women have access to the care they need.
Screening Accuracy
At Endeavor Health, getting the most accurate cancer detection is our priority. We know false positives can happen with any screening test – nationally, about 10% of mammograms result in a false positive. But here, that rate is even lower.
A false positive means you might be called back for more testing, but those follow-up tests are incredibly precise and sensitive. And when it comes to finding cancer early, the peace of mind is worth it. Our goal is to improve accuracy in detecting cancer while keeping unnecessary callbacks to a minimum, so you can feel confident and supported every step of the way.
Leveraging AI in Screening
At Endeavor Health, we are passionate about integrating AI (artificial intelligence) into breast cancer screening, transforming how we detect and diagnose. AI is now a vital tool in analyzing mammography and 3D ultrasound, with the capability to identify cancer with incredible precision. As physicians, our goal is to push past any limits to provide the most accurate care possible.
We also harness AI to enhance the quality of mammogram images, ensuring perfect positioning and imaging every time. Looking ahead, we're exploring how AI can assess a woman’s individual risk, allowing us to personalize screening plans even further. Our aim is to be more efficient, reduce false positives and create an experience where patients feel confident and cared for every step of the way.
At Endeavor Health, we’re here to advocate for your health, ensuring you have the tools and knowledge to detect breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. We encourage all women over 40 to get an annual mammogram, know your breast tissue density level and be an advocate for supplemental screening or earlier screening based on your risk factors. Come to our breast center for additional information, visit us online or call 847-504-3300 to schedule a consultation.
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