75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 • 631.473.1320

Created in response to the concerns of the women of Long Island, the Fortunato Breast Health Center provides state-of-the-art breast healthcare in surroundings that offer a sense of comfort, privacy, and the assurance that each patient’s individual needs will be met.

The highly trained professionals at the Fortunato Breast Health Center are sensitive to the issues of concern to our patients – and our patients have good reason for concern. The American Cancer Society reports that the chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. While the vast majority of breast abnormalities are benign, they can cause great anxiety for a woman and her family, and since there is still no sure way to prevent breast cancer, increased awareness, education and early detection are critical components of breast healthcare.

The Importance of a Complete Breast Care Program:

The most important way women can ensure their breast care program is complete is to practice a 3-step approach to breast care. The Fortunato Breast Health Center recommends that women follow the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for early detection of breast cancer. These guidelines are as follows:

•  First mammogram by age 40; yearly mammograms after age 40
• Clinical Breast Exam at least every three years beginning at age 20; annually after 40
• Monthly Breast Self Examination

Regular mammograms and physical examinations by a trained healthcare professional offer the best chance of detecting breast cancer early – and early detection greatly increases your chances of a cure.

A mammogram can reveal a tumor as much as two years before you or your healthcare provider can feel it. However, no single test is 100% accurate. In 10-15% of mammograms, dense, glandular breast tissue may hide an abnormality. That’s why the Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) and the Breast Self Examination (BSE) are also vital parts of the complete breast care program (for best results, the CBE should be performed close to the time of your mammogram). Also, a breast ultrasound may be recommended for you if your breast tissue is very dense. In recent years, breast ultrasound has shown great promise as an adjunct to annual mammography for early detection.

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast that is performed in a standing position. Usually it consists of two views of each breast – one from above, and one from the side – but sometimes, special views may be required. Do not be alarmed if more than four views are obtained – this is part of a comprehensive examination, and does not mean there is something wrong. At Fortunato Breast Health Center we are pleased to provide digital mammography for all of our patients. This exciting new technology provides our specialty-trained Radiologists with the most detailed diagnostic images possible.

How should you prepare for a mammogram?

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes for your appointment and arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment.
• Do not use deodorant, powder or cream on your breasts or underarms before the exam – they can leave a residue making it difficult to interpret your films.
• Consider wearing a two-piece outfit, since you will be asked to undress from the waist up; we will give you a gown towear during the exam.
• If you’re pregnant or think you might be, inform your physician and the radiologic technologist before the exam.
• If you have had mammograms performed elsewhere in the past, bring those films with you to the Breast Center for comparison.

What does the mammogram feel like?

A female radiologic technologist will have you stand next to the x-ray machine and position your breast between two plates. The plates are then brought together to compress the breast as much as possible – this compression may be uncomfortable, but it lasts typically less than 10 seconds per view, and it’s very important. Vigorous compression allows us to better visualize the breast tissue, and it minimizes the amount of radiation needed to obtain the image.

Breast sensitivity varies from person to person, and can vary even in the same individual based on the menstrual cycle. For most women, the breasts are least sensitive 7 to 10 days after the menstrual period begins; you may want to keep this in mind when scheduling an appointment.
Some women are concerned about radiation exposure. At the Fortunato Breast Health Center, our state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment delivers the lowest possible radiation dose while producing the highest quality mammogram. We are accredited by the American College of Radiology, which means our equipment meets the most rigorous safety standards, and our radiologists and technical staff have special training in breast imaging.

The highly trained expertise of Drs. Price and Carrucciu is at the heart of the compassionate and comprehensive care available at the Fortunato Breast Health Center.

What happens after the mammogram?

Your films are reviewed by a board-certified radiologist, and a report is faxed almost immediately to your physician. We will mail you a letter stating in general terms what your mammogram shows, but you should contact your physician both to discuss the results in greater detail and to arrange for follow-up care, if necessary. Our team of nurses specializing in breast care can answer any other questions you may have about breast health.

What other services does the Fortunato Breast Health Center offer?

The Center has a wide range of literature and educational materials regarding breast health. If you are interested in information that’s not on display, just ask our staff for assistance.
Since we are a full service Breast Center, we can provide all types of breast needle biopsies. These include ultrasound guided cyst aspirations, core needle biopsies, as well as stereotactic/mammotome needle biopsies. These minimally invasive procedures are performed with a local anesthetic, and are very well tolerated by our patients. Results are typically available in 24-48 hours, and we contact our patients directly with results, as well as follow up recommendations.

For more information call the Fortunato Breast Health Center at 631-476-2771

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