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