October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Sioux Center Health staff are reminding women about the importance of mammograms in finding cancer early.
Speaking on Sioux County Radio’s HealthCare Happenings, radiologist Dr. Dave Semerad and mammography technologist Tana explained what patients can expect during a screening, how images are reviewed, and an online option for scheduling appointments.
According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
For invasive breast cancer diagnosed before it has spread outside the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is greater than 99 percent. That measure compares survival among women with breast cancer with survival in the general population; it does not predict an individual patient’s outcome.
Semerad said mammograms allow radiologists to look for changes before a patient might notice a large lump.
“Our job now is to find it before it even gets to that point. We’re finding it literally below the radar,” he said.
Tana, who has worked at Sioux Center Health for more than 15 years, said an appointment typically takes about 15 minutes. The exam generally includes four images, with two taken of each breast.
She said helping patients feel comfortable is an important part of the visit.
“A lot of the time, actually, it’s just calming people’s nerves and making them feel comfortable,” she said.
Patients are encouraged to tell their technologist if something does not feel right so adjustments can be made. Technologists also check the images to make sure they have captured the tissue needed for the radiologist’s review.
Semerad said he compares current mammograms with images from previous years, sometimes looking back five or six years to identify changes over time.
“Many times the change happens for completely normal reasons, but my job is to look for changes that have some suspicious features to them,” he said.
He also considers family history and other risk factors when determining whether additional testing may be appropriate. When needed, Semerad said Sioux Center Health can help connect patients with the Avera Breast Center in Sioux Falls for further evaluation.
During the interview, Semerad encouraged annual mammograms beginning at age 40, while noting some patients may need screening earlier. Patients should discuss screening timing with their healthcare provider based on their individual history and risk.
Sioux Center Health’s transition to the Epic electronic medical record system also includes an option to schedule screening mammograms through the patient portal.
Semerad said patients should still check in with their healthcare provider about their breast health, even when using online scheduling.
Patients can explore self-scheduling through the portal or call to arrange an appointment. Sioux Center Health’s website lists 712-722-8116 for mammogram scheduling.
More information is available at siouxcenterhealth.org. Catch HealthCare Happenings on Wednesday mornings during the 10:00 hour of the Midday Show with Cami Jo on KSOU.
