It's easy to come in for a mammogram. At Lowell General Hospital, we have three convenient locations where you’ll find some of the region’s leading breast health and cancer prevention experts and the latest 3D imaging technology.
Don't wait for an appointment
Our Women's Imaging Center has early morning and Saturday hours for your convenience. With free parking and no referral required for a screening mammogram, it's so easy
What you need to know about your breast cancer risk assessment
Dr. Jill Steinkeler, Medical Director of Breast Imaging at Lowell General Hospital, discusses the importance of yearly mammograms and knowing your personal risk assessment.
Why do you recommend screening mammograms?
3D Screening Mammography (Tomosynthesis) is the only imaging test that has been proven to save lives from breast cancer. The goal of mammography is to find cancers that can be detected early, before a woman has symptoms, when the cancer is most treatable.
What is a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment?
All women have some risk of developing Breast Cancer during their lifetime, but not all women have the same risk. Physicians and Advanced Practice Clinicians use a woman’s personal history, family history, age, reproductive history, genetic testing results, breast tissue density and other factors to determine risk.
How do I get a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment?
The Breast Imaging Department at Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital uses special computer software that performs a breast cancer risk assessment and calculates your estimated lifetime risk of developing breast cancer at the time of your mammogram. It is a benefit that you normally don’t find in a community hospital setting.
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Program
Why is it important to know about my risk of developing breast cancer over my lifetime?
All women have some risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, but not all women have the same risk. Recommendations for breast screening and managing risk are made based on your breast cancer risk score.
How do I receive the results?
Your risk assessment result will be included in your mammography report that is available on the myTuftsMed patient portal, mailed to you as part of the patient result letter and provided to your physician/advanced practice clinician. Your breast cancer risk will be assessed as average, intermediate (middle) or high risk.
What are the risk scores and recommendations?
Most women are at average risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime (<15%). Women at average risk should have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 and a clinical breast exam every year.
Women who are assessed as having intermediate risk of developing breast cancer have a lifetime risk of 15-19%. Based on current guidelines, women at intermediate risk should have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 and a clinical breast exam every year.
What should I do if my assessment score comes back as high risk?
A small number of women are at high risk for developing breast cancer during their lifetime. High risk means a woman has at least a 20% risk of developing breast cancer over her lifetime. Women at high risk may have one or several of the following risk factors: family history of breast cancer, certain pathology found on a biopsy that increases the risk of breast cancer, positive genetic testing results, dense breast tissue (usually in combination with other risk factors), personal history of radiation exposure to the chest or other risk factors.
Women at high risk should have a mammogram every year (oftentimes starting before age 40), a clinical breast examination every 6-12 months, consideration of annual screening breast MRI and a discussion with their physician or healthcare provider about their risk assessment result and the option of scheduling an appointment with the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Program at Lowell General Hospital. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Program at Lowell General Hospital is an outpatient office-based multidisciplinary clinic offering a personalized plan for breast cancer screening and risk reduction strategies for our patients.
Schedule your mammogram today at 978.937.6062. For more information about the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Program visit Breast Health.
