BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
MammographyQ & A with Dr. Mindy Goldfischer
Growing up in ahomesurrounded by Impressionistpaintings, Mindy Goldfischer, MD, wastaught by herparentstoappreciate art. When lookingatradiologicalstudies in medicalschool, shefound imageinterpretationsimilar to artinterpretation, and she gravitatedtothe field of radiology. Dr. Goldfischerhas served as thechief of breast imaging at Englewood Health formorethan25years. In this interview, she discusses what womenshouldknowabout breastcancerscreeningand theservices of The Leslie SimonBreastCare and CytodiagnosisCenteratEnglewood Health.
Dr. Mindy Goldfischer
Q At what age should women begin breast cancer screening? A: TheAmerican College of Radiology( ACR) recommendsthat womenwithan average risk of developing breast cancer begin annual screening mammography at age40. Because youngerwomen tend to have dense breast tissue, whichcan obscure masses, annual mammograms are important; sometimes supplemental breast ultrasound is indicated. High-risk women— those who have a first-degree relative( mother, sister, daughter) withbreastcancerorwho have aBRCAgene mutation— should begin annual screening 10 years earlier, but notbefore the age of 25. After theage of 75, women should consulttheir physiciantodetermine whethertheyneedadditionalscreening.
Q Who isathigh risk? A: Most women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors. Only 5 – 10 percent of breast cancers occurinwomen with agenetic mutation, usuallyBRCA1 or BRC2.
• Women with a history of breast cancer are at increased risk for another breast cancer.
• Womenwithageneticmutationorafirst-degreerelativewithone. Women of AshkenaziJewishdecentare at increasedriskfor BRCA mutation, aswellas otherless-commonmutations, suchasCHEK2.
• Womenwithmultiplefamilymembers( maternalorpaternal), especially first-degreerelatives, who have hadbreastcancer. Theage at diagnosis is important, withpremenopausal occurrence increasing risk.
• Chestradiation before theage of 30 increasesthe risk of breast cancer( aswellascardiac disease).
• Women who have had one or more breast biopsies for ADH( atypical ductal hyperplasia) or LCIS( lobular carcinoma in situ).
Q What are the advantages of 3D mammography? A: At Englewood, almost all mammograms are 3D. With the traditional 2D mammogram, the X-raytubeisstationaryand thebreasttissueoverlapsinthe image. Witha3D mammogram, theX-ray tube movesinanarc around thebreast. Images are obtained from multiple angles and synthesizedbyacomputer, which creates thin slices that can be viewed individually. A special computer algorithm achieves 3D mammogramswiththe same radiationdoseas2Dmammograms.
Same-Day Mammogram Results
TheLeslie SimonBreast Care andCytodiagnosis CenteratEnglewood Health offers allpatients theoptionofremaining in thecenterwhiletheir mammograms are read. If additional mammogram viewsare needed, they are donethe same day. If thereisasuspicious finding on amammogram and an ultrasound is recommended, the patient hasthe option of having it thesameday. Many ultrasound-guidedbiopsies canalsobeperformed during thesamevisit.
To make an appointment for amammogram, call 201-894-3622.
To findaphysician, call833-234-2234 or visit englewoodhealth. org