LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North urges women to make a promise to get a mammogram.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, aside from skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s also the second-leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. The ACS says about one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.
“Women of every age should know their risk for breast cancer,” said Dr. Diane Durgan, a BayCare Medical Group breast surgeon with an office on the St. Joseph’s Hospital-North campus. “If you don’t know your risk for breast cancer, you should ask your doctor to calculate it for you. This will let us know how we’re supposed to watch you and screen you for breast cancer.”
Durgan recommends women over 40 get a mammogram at least once every year.
“Every woman should also be doing monthly breast self-exams,” Durgan said. “This is also important for younger women. If you see something abnormal, let your doctor know. Let us know so you can see a specialist.”
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s Shimberg Breast Center uses 3-D technology to produce high-resolution mammograms. 3-D provides a more precise, clear, accurate and sharper image than 2-D. The technology can also compare images side-by-side from year to year.
Visit BayCareBreastHealth.org to schedule a mammogram.
