Annual Breast Cancer Screenings Can Be Life-Saving

Detecting Breast Cancer Early Can Make Treatment and Recovery Easier

September 28, 2021

Breast cancer is the second-most-common cancer among women in the United States, after skin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A mammogram can detect breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage, when it may be too small to be felt by your doctor or detected during a breast self-exam.

“Regular screenings can help women increase their chance of surviving a cancer diagnosis,” says Jill Enter, MD, of Aiken Surgical Associates.

3D Mammography

3D mammography detects more cancers, and earlier, than 2D mammography, says Dr. Enter. “This is really important, given that approximately 90 percent of breast cancers are identified by mammography alone,” she says. “On average, there is one more breast cancer identified per 1,000 women screened when using 3D compared to 2D.” *

Treatment for Early Breast Cancer

A patient diagnosed with early breast cancer is typically a good candidate for breast conservation therapy, explains Dr. Enter. This type of therapy involves treating the breast cancer by removing the portion of the breast with the abnormal cells and leaving the normal breast tissue intact.

“A patient diagnosed with very early breast cancer will often not require chemotherapy,” says Dr. Enter. “The five-year survival rate of a stage I breast cancer is 99 percent.” **

All-Female Staff

Staffed entirely by women, the Women’s Breast Health and Imaging Center at Aiken Regional Medical Centers offers advanced breast health imaging tests – such as 3D mammography. It is the only dedicated, free-standing women’s imaging center in the area and includes certified mammography technicians. 

“The precise imaging of 3D mammography is very useful in improving breast cancer detection, especially for patients with dense breast tissue,” says Dr. Enter. “It also has helped reduce the number of callbacks for repeat images in routine mammograms, because it provides the radiologist with more detail per image.” *

Women should have a yearly mammography screening starting at age 40, recommends Dr. Enter. “We have a wonderful group of very qualified ladies to assist with imaging,” says Dr. Enter, “and we strive to offer the best and most accurate imaging right here in Aiken.”

Aiken Regional has a team of general surgeons who perform breast surgery, providing those diagnosed with breast cancer several options for treatment, including breast-conserving therapy with lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, mastectomy with reconstruction and bilateral mastectomy.

*breastcancer.org
**cancer.org