Breast Cancer Screenings Should Not Be Delayed Due to COVID-19

10/8/2020

Early detection and treatment supports the best possible outcomes

NATCHEZ, Miss. –October 9, 2020 —– Breast cancer and other medical illnesses remain a risk for women - even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, due to concerns about the virus, many women have postponed their annual screening mammograms, increasing their risk of undetected cancer. Merit Health Natchez is encouraging women who may have delayed their mammograms to schedule the screening now, because when breast cancer is detected early, life-saving treatment can begin immediately.

“When screenings are delayed, diagnosis is delayed, and treatment is delayed,” said Susan Grayson, director of imaging at Merit Health Natchez. “But the best chance for survival of any cancer is early diagnosis and treatment. Women should not be afraid to get a mammogram. Many stringent safety precautions have been put in place in our imaging center to protect everyone from COVID-19. If you’ve put off a mammogram, I’m asking you to please, don’t put it off any longer,” concluded Grayson.

Early Detection Saves Lives

Nearly all breast cancers can be treated successfully if found early. The most effective way to detect breast cancer at an early, treatable stage is to have yearly mammograms. Since mammography became widely used in the 1980s, the U.S. breast cancer death rate in women has dropped 43 percent.

Here in Mississippi, female breast cancer was the most frequently occurring cancer site for women in 2017, the most recent year data is available.

The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging recommend that all women, particularly African American and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, should have a risk assessment at age 30 to see if a screening earlier than age 40 is needed. Women who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer are recommended to be screened with magnetic resonance imaging, an MRI.

For women of average risk, the ACR and SBI recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40, with no upper age limit as long as the woman is in good health. A screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages.

Safety Measures to Protect Against COVID-19

For the protection of patients and staff, Merit Health Natchez is pre-screening all patients for any COVID-19 symptoms, limiting appointments to maintain social distancing, requiring staff and patients all wear masks, and cleaning commonly touched surfaces with greater frequency.

Even Safer with Our Mammography After Hours on October 20 and October 22

At Merit Health Natchez, we recognize it can be difficult to take time away from your job or family for a mammogram. That’s why, on October 20 and October 22, we’re offering Mammography After Hours from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

With our COVID-safe measures in place and your concerns about safety in mind, no other tests and/or procedures will be scheduled in our Medical Imaging Department at your after-hours appointment time. To schedule an appointment, call 601-443-2230.

3D Mammography Available in our area only at Merit Health Natchez

According to the American College of Radiology, utilizing advanced breast tomosynthesis technology, 3D mammography exams are shown to be an advance over digital (2D) mammography, with higher cancer detection rates and fewer patient recalls for additional testing.

“Since adding 3D mammography last year, our hospital’s cancer detection rate has significantly increased – from 5.88 out of 1,000 patients screened with 2D imaging to 9.24 out of 1,000 patients screened with 3D imaging,” said Lance Boyd, CEO of Merit Health Natchez. “This technology has detected cancerous lumps smaller than an eraser top on a pencil. Our mammography technologists get so excited when talking about 3D mammography, and the clarity of the images,” concluded Boyd.

While patients may see little difference between a conventional 2D mammogram and a 3D mammogram – about the same amount of time and same positioning – the real difference will be in the information available to the radiologist reading the exam. During the tomosynthesis portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. A computer then coverts the image into a stack of thin layers, allowing the radiologist to review the breast tissue one layer at a time. “This technology truly is a game changer in the fight against breast cancer, and I commend this hospital for investing in it for this community,” said Dr. Norwood Smith, Radiologist with Jackson Radiology Associates and part of the team who provides radiology services for Merit Health Natchez.

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