Breast health

Breast health center in Idaho Falls

Eastern Idaho Women’s Imaging at EIRMC provides you personalized breath health services needed to maintain long-term health. Our supportive all-woman team performs mammograms, breast and abdominal ultrasounds, stereotactic breast biopsies and bone density testing.

Additionally, our center has accreditation from the American College of Radiology for our mammography care.

Breast health services

Your breast health starts with annual mammogram screenings and a breast cancer risk assessment. Our experienced imaging specialists work together to provide comprehensive breast screening services to help save more lives by detecting breast cancer early.

Mammography

3D mammography can show changes in breast tissue two years before it can be felt. This allows for early diagnoses and treatment when breast cancer is most curable. While ultrasound cannot detect tiny changes indicating early breast cancer, it is an effective modality alongside mammography.

A screening mammogram is your annual mammogram that is done every year. Sometimes, the radiologist may ask you to come back for follow-up images, called a diagnostic mammogram, to rule out an unclear area in the breast. Additionally, if there is a breast complaint or concern (such as a lump) that needs to be evaluated, you'll have a diagnostic mammogram.

How to prepare for your mammogram

To properly prepare for your mammogram, follow these guidelines:

• Schedule the mammogram for one week after your period, when your breasts are the least sore.
• Bring previous mammogram images from other clinics for the radiologist to use for comparison.
• Don’t use deodorant, powder, lotions or perfumes the day of your exam.
• Wear a two-piece outfit, so your top can easily be removed.
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication an hour before the exam may help with discomfort.

What to expect during your mammogram

During your mammogram, you'll be given a gown to earn in place of your top and will be asked to remove necklaces. You can keep your bottoms on. The technologist will place one breast on a "tray" that raises or lowers during the procedure, depending upon your height. She'll then position your breast, head, arms and torso to get the best test results.

Your breast is then pressed against the tray by a clear plate. You'll feel some pressure for a few seconds as your breast tissue is spread out. Most women find it uncomfortable but not necessarily painful. If you have too much discomfort, please tell the technologist. You will be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds as the image is taken.

The entire process typically takes less than 30 minutes. You will be notified of your test results in writing. If you identify a primary care physician or gynecologist at registration, they will receive your results.

3D mammography

3D mammography or diagnostic mammogram is one of the latest advancements in breast imaging. The 3D exam is very similar to having a conventional 2D mammogram. A 3D exam detects 41 percent more invasive breast cancers and reduces false positives by up to 40 percent.

The 3D exam allows doctors to see masses and distortions associated with cancers significantly more clearly than conventional 2D mammography. Instead of viewing all of the complexities of your breast tissue in a flat image, as with traditional 2D mammography, fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by the tissue above or below.

Like a 2D mammogram, our technologist will position you, compress your breast, and take images from different angles.

Very low X-ray (radiation) energy is used during the exam, just like a film-screen mammogram. The total patient dose of a 3D exam is within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety standards for mammography.

Benefits of 3D mammograms

We are proud to offer 3D mammography and its many benefits to our patients, including:

• Increased breast cancer detection rates
• Earlier detection of breast cancers
• Clearer images
• Reduced need for unnecessary biopsies, minimizing patient anxieties and costs

3D mammograms are recommended for patients who have:

• Dense breast tissue
• Family history of breast cancer or previous breast cancer diagnosis
• Previous mammogram results that were inconclusive
• Previously been called back for repeat breast scans
• Undergone biopsies for suspicious masses or lesions in the past

Bone density testing

The primary purpose of bone density testing is to detect osteoporosis. This condition involves a gradual loss of calcium, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile, and more likely to break. The test is also used to assess your risk for developing fractures or track the effects of treatment for osteoporosis or other conditions that cause bone loss.

Osteoporosis often affects women after menopause but may also be found in men.

What to expect during your bone density test

A bone density test is simple, painless and takes about 20 minutes. It uses an enhanced form of X-ray technology known as DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) to determine the mineral density of bones and make an accurate diagnosis.

During the procedure, you lie on a cushioned table while a scanner passes over your body. A radiologist interprets your exam, and test results are sent to your ordering physician.

Breast cancer symptoms

Breasts differ in size, shape and density, and often, one breast will be slightly different from its partner. Also, events such as pregnancy and monthly menstrual cycles can change the size and tenderness of the breasts.

Know what is normal for your body. If you detect any of the following signs, don’t delay seeing a doctor:

• Lump or mass in the breast
• Lump or mass in the armpit
• Breast skin changes, including skin redness and thickening of the breast skin, resulting in an orange-peel texture
• Dimpling or puckering on the breast
• Discharge from the nipple
• Scaliness on the nipple, which sometimes extends to the areola
• Nipple changes, including the nipple turning inward, pulling to one side or changing direction
• An ulcer on the breast or nipple, sometimes extending to the areola
• Swelling of the breast

Breast cancer in men

Although male breast cancers are rare (less than 1 percent of breast cancers), the incidence rate has increased by .8 percent annually from 1975 to 2008. It is not recommended for men to participate in screening mammography, but a self-exam is appropriate.

Breast cancer risk factors

There are factors you can and cannot control in terms of developing breast cancer. Some factors increasing your breast cancer risk are:

• Family history of breast, ovarian or prostate cancer
• Older age
• Having your first period before 12 years old
• High bone density
• A male family member diagnosed with breast cancer
• Personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Positive test for specific gene mutations
• Previous biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia or cancer
• Prior radiation for childhood cancer
• Starting menopause after 55 years old

Some controllable risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer, such as:

• Being exposed to a large amount of radiation
• Being overweight
• High levels of estrogen in the blood
• Obesity
• Not breastfeeding
• Having children or having your first child at 35 years old or older
• Postmenopausal hormone use
• Taking birth control pills for five years or longer

Guidelines for early detection

At EIRMC, breast cancer prevention is a priority. While we offer screening options, self-examinations are essential to ongoing breast care. They can lead to the early detection of abnormalities. The American College of Radiology recommends the following guidelines for who should receive a breast cancer screening:

• Women who are 40 to 44 years old should have annual mammograms as a breast cancer screening
• Women between 45 and 54 years old should get mammograms every year
• Women are who 55 years old and older should have mammograms every two years or continue yearly screening

Our location

Eastern Idaho Women's Imaging is conveniently located in the Medical Office Building west of EIRMC's emergency room.

Our address is:

2860 Channing Way, Suite 121
Idaho Falls, ID 83404