Q& A with Dr. Michelle Price
If there’s no breast cancer in my family do I really need to worry about it?
Less than 10 percent of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary, which unfortunately means that breast cancer can happen to anyone. That’s why early detection is critical and can be a life-saving event.
I keep hearing mixed messages about testing. Do I really need to get a mammogram?
We at the Fortunato Breast Health Center (FBHC) recommend that women begin their annual mammograms at age 40, unless they have been advised to do so earlier by their physicians. Those mammograms should be continued every year thereafter. At the FBHC, we’ve been advocating for years that anyone with high risk – or with dense breasts – couple the annual mammogram with a sonogram. Those with a very high risk should consider a breast MRI six months later, to ensure that they are being evaluated every six months. Again, the more you know and the earlier you know, the better the chance for successful treatment.
Where should I go?
Consider choosing an imaging center that is certified by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers where the entire focus is on breast imaging and breast health.
Michelle Price, MD is Co-Medical Director of the Fortunato Breast Health Center at Mather Hospital.
Source: This article was originally published in the October 2016 issue of Long Island Pulse.