Today is National Mammography Day!

National Mammography Day is observed on the third Friday of every October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The annual celebration was officially proclaimed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, who said, “The threat of breast cancer touches everyone. All women are at risk for breast cancer, including those with no family history of the disease.” Clinton also stressed the importance of community awareness and access to high-quality screening mammography for all women.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 270,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women every year. But the good news is that breast cancer is treatable, and early diagnosis is the key to the most optimal patient outcomes. Our all-woman team at Central Clinic for Women is proud to offer state-of-the-art 3D Screening mammography, which yields significantly more diagnostic information than traditional mammograms! 

Annual mammography screening cuts the risk of dying from breast cancer nearly in half; unfortunately, according to a CDC study, only 67.5% of women ages 40 and over had received a mammogram within the last two years. But it’s a simple outpatient procedure that typically takes less than an hour, and our women's clinic Little Rock is conveniently located on the Baptist Health Campus in Little Rock. We recommend that women aged 35 and up start scheduling mammograms as part of their annual exams, or earlier if they present with a family history of cancer or other risk factors. 

Clinical studies have shown that combining a 3D mammogram with a standard mammogram yields more accurate diagnoses than a standard mammogram alone. The procedure involves taking multiple images, or X-rays, of breast tissue to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast, enabling our diagnosticians to see beyond areas of density and detect cancers that might otherwise be missed. Combining both exams also typically obviates the need for follow-up imaging. Be sure to also perform a monthly Breast Self-Exam (BSE) at home and contact us for immediate follow-up if you feel any thickening or lumps in your breast tissues or notice any unusual discharge. 

Our team at CCFW is committed to providing the highest quality care for women of all ages, and we’re proud to celebrate National Mammography Day! Contact us online or dial (501) 227-5885 to schedule your mammogram today!