This October, Brookwood Medical Center has developed its own campaign in the fight against breast cancer – Picture Yourself Healthy – which encourages every woman in our community to take the one picture that could save her life…a mammogram. We’ve created a special logo to help that message stand out during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We hope you’ll join us so every woman takes a steps to picture herself healthy.

On the Lookout for Breast Cancer

According to The American Cancer Society, more than 1,500 people die each day in the U.S. form cancer, which will account for one of every four deaths nationwide this year.  Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women and approximately 40,460 women will die from the disease this year.   

Click here to schedule your mammogram on-line. Search Mammography Services for available appointment times.

Brookwood Medical Center has a Women's Diagnostic Center just for women. We offer advanced technology and expertise to help women keep a close eye on their breast health. 

Digital mammography is much like digital photography, with the machine taking electronic pictures of the breast and sending it to a computer. There the image can be stored and viewed by physicians. Since the image is on a computer, the doctor can use special software to zoom in on an area of concern.

Advantages of digital mammography include:

• Shorter imaging times. Digital images generally take less than a minute compared to 10 to 15 minutes for film mammography.
• Better images. Digital images have better contrast resolution and allow physicians to manipulate the images to view different areas of the breast.

Breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in conjunction with mammograms give doctors a better chance of finding breast cancer early. In March 2007 the American Cancer Society endorsed the use of breast MRI together with mammograms for women with a high risk of developing the cancer.

Brookwood Medical Center now offers breast MRI for patients who qualify. Talk to your doctor about the benefi ts and risks of supplementing your breast health screenings with an MRI. You may be at higher than average risk for breast cancer if you:

• Have already had breast cancer
• Have a close relative (mother, sister or daughter) who has had breast cancer
• Have been diagnosed with a breast condition, such as atypical hyperplasia
• Had two or more biopsies for noncancerous breast disease
• Have alterations in specific genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2

Genetic testing for breast cancer is available at Brookwood. This is specially reserved for patients with a high propensity for cancer in their family history. You may qualify for genetic testing if you have any of the following:

• A personal or family history of breast cancer before the age of 50
• A personal or family history of ovarian cancer at any age
• A personal or family history of male breast cancer at any age

Visit  www.bwmc.com/genetictesting  for more information about genetic testing services at Brookwood.

MORE ABOUT MAMMOGRAPHY

CANCER FACTS

Information about breast cancer and messages of awareness and support are very important. Please join us and help spread that word throughout our community. Be part of the team; tell every woman you meet…at work, around town and among family and friends…to “Picture Yourself Healthy” by scheduling a mammogram.