Routine Gynecologic Care

Many women already know that mammograms should become a regular part of their healthcare routine starting at around 40 (or earlier for those with certain risk factors, such as the BRCA gene). However, not everyone who needs a mammogram receives one, and those who do might not realize how much a mammography can positively impact their lives.

The primary purpose of a mammogram is to identify the early signs of breast cancer, such as unusual tissue or small growths. In addition, individuals who undergo mammography see improved health outcomes in other areas that, at first glance, seem entirely unrelated to mammography. Why does this happen? A few studies have revealed some of the potential reasons.

How Are Mammograms Related to Broader Healthcare Outcomes?

Research is increasingly showing that mammograms may be more related to better health outcomes in non-breast cancer areas than doctors initially thought. In fact, studies show that people who got mammograms as scheduled were around 20% less likely to die of any cause—not just breast cancer. There are a few reasons why this might be the case:

Greater Trust in Providers

Whether an individual trusts their medical provider is a significant factor in how often they are willing to visit a doctor’s office. When women undergo regular mammograms, they see their providers more often, establishing a history and rapport with them. This makes it easier and less stressful to visit them later; thus, they are more likely to schedule appointments whenever needed.

As a result, people who get mammograms regularly build a stronger network of supportive physicians they can see whenever an issue arises. This increases the likelihood of identifying a health problem—even if it is not breast cancer—as early as possible.

A More Preventive Mindset

Studies indicate that when people attend their preventive care visits, they are more likely to take a proactive attitude toward their health. For instance, in a study of people’s opinions on health care, 73% said that they would rather have a full-body CT scan to check for health issues than receive $1,000. Less than a third of respondents said that they would stop attending preventive care appointments in the future.

In other words, people who get screenings such as mammograms tend to be healthier because they are consistently willing to undergo preventive care. This can apply to many areas of health beyond breast health.

A Trend Toward Healthy Habits

Similar to some people’s willingness to continue with preventive care, many who receive mammograms benefit in other health areas because they generally tend to make healthier choices. Those who invest time and energy into preventive care often understand that many health factors are within their control, so they proactively schedule screenings.

This attitude goes beyond just breast health and feeds into other positive habits. Everything from eating a diet rich in nutritious foods to getting plenty of exercise and enough sleep all become more common on average in individuals who schedule mammograms.

Patients who are still unsure whether a mammogram is worth the effort should consider that taking that first step can be the gateway to many other beneficial health attitudes and changes!

Increased Likelihood of Repeat Visits

Another reason mammography care translates to better overall preventive health participation is that patients are more likely to visit the doctor repeatedly. When patients learn the benefits of mammography and its role in identifying risks early, they find the power to take control of their health.

This optimism is infectious, and patients often quickly learn to value the peace of mind that comes with regular visits to the doctor. This encourages greater active participation in one’s own health, which can form the foundation of a regular screening schedule—not just for breast cancer but for other things, too.

Patients who visit the doctor regularly are more likely to see positive outcomes, from diseases caught in their earliest stages to greater access to medical information that can change their lifestyle choices.

Invest in a Mammogram for Whole-Body Health

A mammogram is an invaluable tool for ascertaining the health of the breast tissue—but getting a mammogram is also correlated with better health outcomes and greater participation in preventive healthcare in general.

Thus, when you invest in spending some time getting a mammogram, you could be doing more for your health than you realize.

The professional team at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness is always happy to support your healthcare pursuit so you can be empowered to care for your body. Contact Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness today to schedule your mammogram appointment.

All women should undergo mammograms throughout their lives, ideally starting at age 40 (or earlier for those with a family history or certain genetic traits). However, some women may be concerned that mammography might not work for them because of their breast tissue type.

Dense breast tissue can make interpreting a mammogram more difficult because the image is cloudier and full of white patterning. Still, women with even very dense breasts can benefit from regular mammograms.

It is essential to make the most of these appointments to understand what breast density has to do with mammogram results, how these mammograms can be interpreted, and ways that patients can maximize the accuracy of their mammography reports.

Do You Have Dense Breasts?

Before a woman can approach her mammogram with information about her breast density, she must understand whether or not she has dense breasts in the first place. Breast “density” is the composition of the breast tissue.

In many women, the breasts are made up largely of fatty tissue, which appears grayish on mammography imaging. Within breasts, fibrous tissue (thicker bands or sections of the breast) helps to give these anatomical features their shape, holding the breasts in place.

The fatty and fibrous tissue does not interfere with breast imaging for most people. However, some women have very thick fibrous tissue or may have an abundance of glandular tissues, the milk-producing glands, and ducts that carry the milk.

Together, these features can make the breast dense, obscuring findings more easily visualized in fatty areas. Women can range from almost entirely fatty breasts, which are easy to scan, to dense breasts with minimal fat, which can be much more challenging.

How to Read Mammograms With a Breast Density Report

As of 2024, the FDA now requires that every mammogram include a patient’s breast density report. Patients can read this information for themselves; the report will directly specify that the patient’s breasts are either “dense” or “not dense.”

This determination is made by categorizing the breast on a scale from A to D, which will also be included in the report:

• Category A: The breast is made up almost exclusively of fatty tissues.
• Category B: Some areas of glandular and fibrous tissue exist but are scattered and minor.
• Category C: A large portion of the breast is made of fibrous and glandular tissue (this is called being heterogeneously dense).
• Category D: Breasts are made almost entirely of dense tissues with very little fat.

Do Mammograms Work on Dense Breast Tissue?

Even in Category D women, mammograms are still an essential part of healthcare. While it is true that clearly visualizing all parts of the breast tissue can be more difficult when that tissue is dense, a professional can still spot problematic areas that may lead to cancerous growth.

This rate of success in identifying cancer early is still higher and more effective than waiting for symptoms to develop from cancerous growth and then pursuing treatment.

How to Get the Clearest Results

Dense breast tissue can make mammograms a little more challenging, but this is something that skilled professionals see all the time; in fact, around half of women have dense breasts. While a woman cannot change the tissue composition of her own body, there are some things she can do to facilitate clearer, more accurate results during a mammogram:

• Work with a skilled team: Some providers have more experience with dense breast tissue than others. Select a mammography team that works with imaging on dense breasts frequently, as they will be more knowledgeable about what to look for.
• Get mammograms regularly: For women with dense breast tissue, frequent mammograms are essential. Having a history of breast tissue images will allow the doctor to see gradual changes over time, clarifying which parts of the breast are normal and which are not. This additional resource increases the likelihood of finding problematic growths in dense breast tissue.
• All women should be careful to follow their doctor’s instructions before mammograms, but this can be especially important for those with dense breast tissue. Avoid wearing lotion or other cosmetics that could interfere with the mammogram to make sure doctors take a clear picture.

Trust Your Mammograms to Professionals

Dense breast tissue can make mammograms more difficult, but it should not discourage patients from getting scanned. In fact, it is more important than ever for women with dense breasts to get regular mammograms because having a history of images can lead mammograms to be more accurate.

Trust a team that regularly scans dense breasts for the best results. Contact Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today to schedule your mammogram.

Many factors contribute to breast cancer risk, from family history to genetic predisposition. However, few people realize that the foods they eat and dietary habits they consider routine may also play a role in their mammography outcomes.

While no superfood prevents breast cancer—nor is there a single food that causes it—a person’s overarching dietary choices influence how the body’s cells grow and divide. A few small changes to your diet can go a long way toward decreasing your risk of breast cancer and enjoying better overall health.

Learn how certain foods and dietary habits can influence breast health and mammogram outcomes so you can make informed decisions about diet, health, and wellness.

Why Fat Is Tied to Cancer

A high-fat diet also tends to be higher in calories, as fat is a calorically dense substance. However, this does not necessarily mean that eating fat is a poor choice; some types of fat, such as mono- and polyunsaturated fats, are good for health and can be found in nutritious items such as avocados and salmon.

The problem with fat arises when a person consumes too many calories, building up excess fat cells in the body. A person who is overweight or obese is typically also at a higher risk of breast cancer due to how fat cells impact hormones. Fat produces estrogen, which is a foundational hormonal component of breast tissue growth.

When the cells in the breasts grow faster and more abundantly, they also replicate faster, which increases the odds that a cell will become abnormal and transition into cancer.

Switching to healthy fats in the diet and avoiding the consumption of excess calories can keep the breast tissue healthy.

The Role of Red Meat

For many years, the adage has spread that red meat is the inferior choice to white meat because red meat causes inflammation. Extensive cohort studies into breast cancer risk have found that while no difference in breast cancer risk was found between groups who ate a high amount of red meat versus a low amount, postmenopausal women did see a higher rate of breast cancer than premenopausal women when both cohorts consumed red meat.

The cause behind this difference is unclear and could range from the cooking method to the type of animal the meat came from.

While the connection between red meat and breast cancer may not be entirely clear, there are still benefits to limiting its consumption. On average, white meat is lower in fat, decreasing caloric consumption.

Other essential nutrients, such as zinc and B vitamins, can be found in white meat, so there is an incentive to add more of it to the diet.

Fiber in the Diet

A diet high in fiber is good for the body for many reasons, but reducing the incidence of breast cancer is one reason people may not be aware of. There are many mechanisms behind why fiber is associated with significantly lower breast cancer rates:

• Stable blood sugar – Cancer cells need energy to grow, and excess glucose (sugar) in the blood encourages cancer proliferation. Fiber stabilizes blood sugar.
• Lower free estrogen – Fiber can help to reduce excess estrogen, which slows the proliferation of breast cells that can become cancerous.
• Decreased appetite – Fiber helps people to feel full for longer after eating, which helps to avoid calorie overconsumption. Thus, those who incorporate fiber (especially fruits and vegetables) are less likely to face increased cancer risk from obesity.

Alcohol and the Cancer Connection

Many assume that a small drink here and there does not impact their health. Still, studies show that breast cancer risk increases by 7% to 10% for each alcoholic drink an individual consumes per day.

Researchers believe that ethanol, the alcohol found in drinks, is responsible for this increase in breast cancer risk (through its function of raising estrogen in the body); thus, it is likely that the type of alcohol does not matter as much as how often and how much an individual consumes.

Get Regular Breast Cancer Screenings

A person’s dietary choices have a role to play in their breast cancer risk, just as their genetics, family history, and other lifestyle factors do. By making minor adjustments to nutritional habits over time, an individual can boost their health in many ways and decrease their lifetime risk of breast cancer.

The professionals at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness encourage all women to participate regularly in breast cancer screening through both mammography and self-exams at home.

Contact Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness to schedule your mammogram or learn more about how to keep your breasts healthy over the long term.

Generally, women should have a mammogram once per year starting at age 45, though the American Cancer Society recommends that women start getting mammograms at 40 if accessible. Those with higher risk factors, such as the BRCA gene, should begin screening sooner.

However, women with breast implants often believe that mammography cannot work for them. In reality, it is both possible and encouraged to get breast exams, including mammograms, whether or not you have breast implants! Getting a mammogram with breast implants is generally similar to the experience for individuals who do not have implants.

However, there are still a few things to keep in mind. Here is a guide on how mammograms are conducted on people with breast implants and any special considerations to keep in mind.

Can Mammograms Be Done With Implants?

In short—yes, mammograms can be done on patients who have had breast implants. It is best to entrust this service to a healthcare provider with experience doing breast exams and imaging for people who have implants, as the process can be slightly different than it is for individuals with only natural breast tissue. More provider experience means better pictures!

What to Expect During a Mammogram

Patients who have breast implants should plan to tell their doctor at the time they schedule the mammogram. This allows them to be paired with a technician who has the necessary experience and may require a longer appointment time since patients with implants usually need a few more pictures to be taken.

On the day of the appointment, women will prepare for the procedure as normal by avoiding lotions and creams in the torso area and then undressing in the exam room.

During the imaging process, the mammographer will use a skill called implant displacement, in which the implant is gently shifted back toward the chest wall and the breast tissue pulled forward to get the best images without the implant in the way.

Still, because of the implants, most mammographers will need to take a few additional pictures to capture as much of the breast tissue as possible. Thus, patients should expect to spend 10 to 15 extra minutes at most.

When the mammogram is complete, the patient can return to their normal daily activities. The breast implants will remain in their intended position, but patients should report any lingering discomfort to their doctor.

The Risks of Mammography With Implants

Mammography is a safe and effective method of detecting breast cancer in its earliest stages. However, there are still some minor risks for individuals with breast implants. These include:

• Rupture – While extremely rare, it is possible for the pressure exerted during a mammogram to rupture certain types of breast implants, including saline implants. The best way to reduce this risk is to work with a provider with experience providing mammography to implant patients.
• Capsular contracture – In some instances, tough, scar-like tissue forms around a breast implant after it has been placed. A mammogram can disrupt this tissue, leading to slight visual or textural changes to the breast anatomy.
• Radiation – Because women with breast implants usually need to have more imaging done to capture as much breast tissue as possible, they are exposed to slightly higher levels of radiation. However, this only amounts to a few more pictures and is still well within the safe bounds of what doctors recommend for patients.

While it is true that mammography can pose some minor risks that occur rarely, patients with implants should not be dissuaded. The advantages of mammography for identifying breast cancer early are worth the risk, and many more patients will detect breast cancer than will experience any negative side effect.

Get Your Breast Exams Done Regularly

Mammography is essential in a patient’s toolkit for preserving their long-term health and staying safe from cancer. In fact, individuals who received mammograms on the recommended schedule were 41% less likely to die due to breast cancer and saw a 25% reduction in the severity of breast cancer if diagnosed.

Having breast implants should not discourage patients from seeking out regular screening, though the process may be slightly different compared to those who do not have implants.

If you are overdue for your next breast exam or mammogram, the best time to schedule is now! The professionals at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness understand how to complete high-quality mammography in patients with breast implants. Contact Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness today to schedule your screening!

Breast cancer screening is an invaluable part of healthcare for women (and even men, sometimes!). A mammogram provides clarity into the state of the breast tissue, which can identify problems ranging from benign cysts to the development of cancer.

However, many people face challenges when considering scheduling a mammogram. While accessibility, cost, and awareness are all roadblocks to getting a mammogram as recommended, fewer people consider the psychology of breast cancer screening and how a person’s mentality can affect their exposure to mammograms.

From developing anxiety about the procedure before the mammogram is even scheduled to experiencing significant stress, depression, or even PTSD following a diagnosis, individuals can face severe psychological challenges related to breast health.

Preparing for the process ahead of time can ease these difficulties and make mammography a more seamless part of life that does not cause such distress.

Before the Mammogram

Before scheduling a mammogram, women may face psychological challenges that interfere with their ability or willingness to make an appointment at all.

Studies show that some individuals face severe anxiety about breast cancer screening—especially if they believe that they are especially susceptible to developing cancer (e.g., a family history) or they fear the severity, length, or cost of potential cancer treatments. This anxiety can cause defensive avoidance of screening, leaving women unwilling to schedule an appointment.

Those who do choose to schedule may continue to face anxiety, especially if the mammogram appointment they are attending is a follow-up to a previous abnormal report. This, too, can lead to avoidance, resulting in appointment cancellation.

After Breast Cancer Screening

For individuals who complete their breast cancer screening, psychological distress does not necessarily resolve. Studies indicate that conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise based on either the mammogram process itself or the results discovered therein.

Research following women after screening found that while a diagnosis of cancerous tissue resulted in increased anxiety, depression, and stress, so did heightened surveillance in non-confirmed diagnoses. In other words, women who were diagnosed with cancer through a mammogram screening were more anxious, depressed, and stressed.

However, those who did not have a cancer diagnosis but whose doctors scheduled them for follow-up screenings after finding “suspicious” tissue, as well as those whose medical professionals provided what patients perceived as “extra” guidance, also suffered from significant anxiety.

This may be caused by patients perceiving their doctors’ extra attention as suggesting something is wrong.

How to Prepare Mentally for Screening

Breast cancer screening can be intimidating, but when approached with preparation, individuals can replace their anxiety with confidence and reassurance. Understand that a mammogram aims to identify problematic cells as early as possible.

By getting mammograms regularly, patients can catch cancerous cells while they are still in the earliest phases—and sometimes before they have turned cancerous at all. Survival rates for a breast cancer diagnosis at this early stage are significantly higher, in some cases reaching nearly 100%.

Thus, mammography can ease patients’ worries by reassuring them that they are healthy and that any problematic cells are being attended to as soon as possible before any cancer can worsen. Other things that can help patients prepare include:

• Learning more about the mammography procedure – For patients nervous about the mammogram itself, watch videos or read step-by-step guides to help set expectations.
• Finding a doctor you can trust – Build rapport with a doctor in advance. This helps patients trust their recommendations rather than succumb to the anxiety associated with doctors who recommend follow-up care. Patients with a reliable medical team will trust their doctor to care for them properly, which can ease fears and reduce stress.
• Scheduling wisely – A mammogram can become more stressful when scheduled at an inconvenient time. Patients are more likely to cancel if they schedule their mammogram during the work day or when they must rush to the appointment. Choose a mammogram slot that fits into your day so you can feel confident and at ease.

Get Breast Cancer Screening to Ease Anxieties

Breast cancer screening through mammography is an irreplaceable tool for keeping patients safe from the risks of breast cancer. It can be used alongside self-examination at home and clinical exams by your doctor to catch problems in their earliest stages when the tissue is still most responsive to treatment.

However, patients face numerous psychological barriers to breast cancer screening. Preparing for the appointment the right way can remove some of these challenges.

The professional team at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness strives to make your mammogram as simple, seamless, and accessible as possible so you can schedule with confidence.

Contact Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness to select a slot for your mammogram appointment.