Breast Cancer Screening

Guidelines for women of average risk

At age 25, you should see your doctor for a formal breast cancer risk assessment. If your doctor concludes that your risk level is average:

• Between ages 25-40: you should have a clinical breast exam every one to three years and practice “breast awareness.” This means being familiar with your breasts so that you’ll be able to recognize any changes.
• Age 40: you should begin yearly mammograms and annual clinical breast exams. Depending on your individual risk factors, you might also need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to your mammogram.

Guidelines for women with a family history of breast cancer

If you have any blood relatives with a history of breast cancer (this can include aunts, nieces and even great-grandparents), you should:

• Begin yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams 10 years before the age of your youngest family member to be diagnosed.
• Seek genetic counseling if you have a strong family history or a known inherited breast cancer gene.
• Ask your doctor about breast MRI with your mammograms.

Breast cancer screening at the Breast Health Center

When you come to the Joanne Knight Breast Health Center for your mammogram or breast cancer screening, your scans will be read by an imaging expert with the skill, knowledge and experience only a national leader can deliver. Our internationally recognized radiologists are part of a team of Washington University Physicians that includes sub-specialized breast health experts.

The technician who performs your mammogram will also be a specialist in mammography. Every radiology technologist on our staff has advanced certification in breast mammography and has undergone rigorous training in breast anatomy and physiology, position and compression, and imaging patients with breast implants.

Siteman provides all-digital breast imaging services, including:

• Screening mammograms, including 3D mammography (tomosynthesis)
• Diagnostic mammograms
• Breast ultrasound
• Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Minimally invasive breast biopsy

All patients who come to the Breast Health Center are offered 3D mammograms. This allows the technician to capture images of the breast from multiple angles. 3D imaging has reduced the callback rate for additional scans by up to 40 percent because our technicians get all the views they need the first time.