Don't Wait Months for Your Mammogram, We Have Same-Week Appointments in Chicago

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., the best way to avoid a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis is to undergo annual mammography starting at the age that’s appropriate for your risk factors. When breast cancer is caught late, it may have metastasized and not be treatable. Caught early, breast cancer can often be cured.

Thanks to early detection through mammograms as well as improvements in treatment, your chances of surviving breast cancer have increased dramatically. When caught and treated early, breast cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 99%. 

You’re determined to take charge of your breast health, so you call a facility to schedule a mammogram. But they tell you they won’t be ready for you for several months. When you call someone else, the same thing happens. How can you get a timely mammogram? 

At Mass Medical Imaging in Lake Forest, Illinois, we specialize in mammograms and other screenings to ensure you get the care you need when you need it. Our team works with our expert doctors Joseph Calandra, MD, and Karen Mass, MD, to schedule you the same week.

Why are prompt mammograms so important? Below are a few of the reasons why you shouldn’t have to wait.

Waiting causes anxiety

You may be worried about your breast cancer risk because of personal or family history. Or, you may be ready for your first or next mammogram. However, simply the idea of scheduling a mammogram creates anxiety for most women.

What happens if they find something? Will you have to undergo surgery? Chemotherapy and radiation? These questions can keep you stressed and in a state of uncertainty when you have to wait months for a simple mammogram.

It’s also possible that your schedule will change by the time your appointment rolls around. We want you to get the answers you need to either relax or take action for your breast health. That’s why we make sure we have plenty of appointments to accommodate your needs.

Waiting risks your health

The earlier a breast cancer is discovered, the more likely it is that your cancer can be cured or put into remission. Smaller tumors are easier to treat than larger ones. Thanks to early detection and treatment, the United States is home to four million breast cancer survivors. 

In addition, when you wait too long to treat breast cancer, the cancerous cells may migrate to other areas of your body. Late-stage (i.e., metastasized) cancer may have invaded your lungs or other organs, making treatment more difficult or even impossible.

You may need more than one mammogram

Another reason to avoid delay is that — depending on what your mammogram reveals — you may need a second mammogram or other testing. If you have dense breasts, for instance, we may not be able to discern a tumor on a standard mammogram.

• Dense breasts may necessitate another round of tests. These could include:
• Diagnostic mammogram to take closer look at your breast
• Breast tomosynthesis to see your breast in 3-D
• Breast ultrasound to look for masses in dense tissue
• Breast magnetic resonance imaging to detect small tumors

You wouldn’t want to wait another few weeks or months to schedule these follow-up screenings, either. You deserve answers and the earliest treatment possible.

You may need to start sooner 

In 2019, the American College of Physicians recommended that women without a history of breast cancer wait until age 50 before getting a mammogram, to avoid the stress of false positives and anxiety. However, most OB/GYNs and radiologists believe that’s far later than is safe for most women.

The American College of Radiology suggests that you start at age 40 and ask your doctor if you need to start earlier than that. The American College of Gynecology (ACOG) recommends starting at age 40, with a mammogram every 1-2 years. 

If you’re over 40 and haven’t yet had a mammogram, book one today. You should continue regular screenings until you’re at least 75 years old. 

However, if you’re at increased risk, you may want to start earlier than age 40. Instead of waiting two years between screenings, get them every year. Increased risk factors include:

• African-American, Latina, or Jewish heritage
• Family history of reproductive cancers
• Having BRCA1 and 2 mutations
• Personal history of breast cancer or disease
• Prior radiation treatment
• Being overweight or obese after menopause
• Never having been pregnant
• Having first pregnancy after age 30
• Menstruating before age 12
• Entering menopause after age 55

High levels of estrogen are associated with a higher risk for breast cancer. If you’re on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may also wish to start mammograms earlier or have them annually rather than every other year.

Book a mammogram for next week by calling our friendly team or using our online appointment form today.