Mammography screening has been one of the great public health achievements of the last 30 years. Statistics show that following the widespread introduction of mammography screening in the 1990’s, the death rate from breast cancer in the United States has decreased 35%. Dr. Rand Stack shares why you should stay on top of your breast cancer screening schedule.

1. 1. Mammograms find breast cancer at the earliest stage. Mammography is the only technique that can reliably detect breast cancer at the earliest stage, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, or Stage 0 breast cancer). When diagnosed and treated at this stage, the prognosis for complete recovery is excellent.
   2. Mammography is safe for women with breast implants. Mammograms are routinely performed on women with breast implants, with no harm to the implants. Many of the breast cancers diagnosed in women with breast implants are detected with mammography.
   3. Annual Mammograms Save Lives. The NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) recommends yearly mammograms.  Multiple large scientific studies have confirmed that annual mammograms save more lives than mammograms performed less frequently.  Dr. Adora Fou shares what to expect for your first mammogram in this video below:
      
   4. Every year 30,000 women in their forties are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. A Harvard study found that the majority (more than 70%) of women who died from breast cancer in their 40’s, were among the 20% who had not engaged in routine annual mammography screening. Start getting yearly mammograms at age 40.
   5. Continue getting mammograms as you age. For women older than 74, the incidence of breast cancer is greater than for all women below the age of 65. Westmed recommends that a woman continues to have annual mammograms regardless of her age, as long as she is in good health.

Make an appointment online to schedule your annual mammogram or call (914) 682-6430.