News
Saving lives in the color pink
Scott Wagar
10/22/2013
For women in the Bottineau area that are concerned with breast cancer, they have a state-of the-art facility right in their own backyard that will assist them in checking to see if they have breast cancer, and guide them in the right direction to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
St. Andrew’s Health Center in Bottineau has one of the best mammogram departments in north central North Dakota with the best technology to detect breast cancer at the earliest stages.
“St. Andrews offers a Full-Field Digital Mammography System for the purpose of breast cancer screening,” said Brenda Aberle, a member of the mammography team at St. Andrew’s Health Center. “Digital mammography is currently the gold standard for breast cancer screening.”
In recent years, the health center in Bottineau added a mammogram department that grants its patients privacy in a room that doesn’t look cold and sterile like some facilities across the U.S., but a department that has a domicile setting.
When patients go into the mammogram department at St. Andrew’s they have a warm and comforting atmosphere, which continues on as the radiology department conduct their mammograms.
“We try and make the process as comfortable as possible. Currently we have a dedicated room, so in other words, only mammograms are performed there. It is very relaxing and has a homey décor. We also try to have some soft quiet music playing to make our patients even more comfortable,” Aberle said.
“First off, we go over a set of questions that lets us know if the patient has any risk factors for breast cancer, including family history and also if they currently have any concerns they wish to address,” she continued.
“Then, we begin the exam, which routinely consists of four different views or exposures, this may vary some depending on the person (we are not all identical) and also if she has a current problem, such as a lump,” Aberle said.
A mammogram does of course involve compressing the breast tissue, so it does have some discomfort. This is very dependent on the patient. Some find it very uncomfortable and some say it is no big deal,” Aberle continued. “After the exam is complete, all of our studies are sent to Trinity Health to be read by a radiologist and then the patient will receive a letter in the mail with results, usually within a week. The patient’s physician will receive a report with results as well.”
Aberle added that all women should take preventive measures when it comes to breast cancer.
“Women of all ages should perform monthly self breast exams,” she said. “The current recommendations for mammography is to have what we call a baseline study between the age of 35-40, and then to have a yearly mammogram after the age of 40.
“Many women ask me when they can quit being screened and currently The American Cancer Society and American College of Radiology recommend having a yearly mammogram as long as you are in good health otherwise,” Aberle said.
When it comes to men being checked for breast cancer, the local health center can assist men, too. However, for men the protocol is little bit different for men and their journey to having a mammogram.
“It is not uncommon for men to have a mammogram ordered by their provider. Males would need to have a signed order from their provider to set up a mammogram, but of course men can be diagnosed with breast cancer as well,” Aberle said. “Some common reasons we see for performing mammograms on males is a breast lump, pain around the breast area, swollen breast tissue. Men are screened using the same process and equipment as women.”
When it comes to mammograms, Medicare will pay for one mammogram every 12 months, and the majority of most insurance companies also offer preventative services, which according to Aberle includes Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which will pay for one per calendar year.
This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and St. Andrew’s Health Center is having a Mammography Clinic on Oct. 24 in association with the health center’s Women’s Wellness event on the same day. For more information on the mammography clinic and wellness event, call St. Andrew’s at (701) 228-9300.