Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press
A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles on May 6, 2010. An influential U.S. task force now says women should get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced the updated guidance Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Statistically, 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime, yet Utah still ranks in the bottom 30 among states when it comes to breast cancer screenings.
Annual mammograms are the most important step women can take when it comes to detecting breast cancer early when it’s most treatable, doctors say.
To help nudge women toward their screenings, Intermountain Health is improving access to screening tools and streamlining the cancer treatment process so women don’t have to wait so long between appointments.
“We know women may skip their screenings because they have extremely busy lives or are taking care of family, while for some, a mammogram can seem scary because you don’t know what a doctor might find,” said Dr. Eugene Kim, system chief of breast imaging at Intermountain Health. “Getting an annual mammogram can give women peace of mind and ensure they’re healthy far into the future.”
In an effort to improve access, Intermountain Health deploys two mobile mammogram units in Utah. The mobile mammography in Northern Utah covers clinics and businesses with large numbers of female employees who want to be screened, as well as Layton Hospital. Another mobile unit in Southern Utah covers rural hospitals without mammogram equipment so women don’t have to travel a long way in order to get the screening.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say there are some women alive today because they were screened using one of our mobile units and caught their cancer early,” said Jen Leonce, mobile mammogram coordinator at Intermountain Health. “Breast screening is the best prevention because if we catch things early, there are more options for the patient to fight the cancer.”
Intermountain Health has also streamlined the cancer screening progress by giving women the option of having a biopsy done the same day if a suspicious mass is found. In the past, it would take weeks, leaving women with worry and anxiety over the results. On top of that, they would have to wait even longer to have surgery. Studies have shown that when caught in the early stages, breast cancer has a much higher cure rate.
“A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, and we want to make sure women get on their path to healing as soon a possible,” Kim said.
With advancements in technology and procedures, women have more options in the treatment of breast cancer that are much less invasive than those of the past.
In addition, new surgery techniques allow physicians to cut less breast tissue during tumor removal, and in some cases, women will only need radiation treatments to resolve the cancer.
But if chemotherapy is part of the plan, doctors say the treatment has become more precise and doesn’t always have the same side effects as those in the past.
“A lot has changed with cancer treatment over the last 25 years and it’s helping patients live longer, fuller lives,” Kim said. “At Intermountain, we make sure patients have the guidance and help they need at every step along the way with our team-based approach.”
You can schedule an appointment by calling 801-906-2700 or visiting intermountainhealthcare.org/mammogram.