Breast Cancer Screenings Should Not Be Delayed Due to COVID-19

10/18/2021

Early detection and treatment supports the best possible outcomes

Hattiesburg – Breast cancer and other medical illnesses remain a risk for women - even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, due to concerns about the virus, many women have postponed their annual screening mammograms, increasing their risk of undetected cancer. Merit Health Wesley is encouraging women who may have delayed their mammograms to schedule the screening now, because when breast cancer is detected early, life-saving treatment can begin right away.

“When screenings are delayed, diagnosis is delayed, and treatment is delayed,” said radiologist Tom Cole, M.D.. “But the best chance for survival of any cancer is early diagnosis and treatment. Women should not be afraid to get a mammogram. Many safety precautions have been put in place in our imaging center to protect everyone from COVID-19. So as a doctor, I’m telling you - if you’ve put off having a mammogram, don’t put it off any longer.”

Early Detection Saves Lives
Nearly all breast cancers can be treated successfully if found early. The most effective way to detect breast cancer at an early, treatable stage is to have yearly mammograms. Since mammography became widely used in the 1980s, the U.S. breast cancer death rate in women has dropped 43 percent.

Here in Mississippi, 17,037 new female breast cancer cases were reported in 2018, the most recent year data is available.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend that all women, particularly African American and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, should have a risk assessment at age 30 to see if a screening earlier than age 40 is needed. Women who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer are recommended to be screened with magnetic resonance imaging, an MRI.

For women of average risk, the ACR and SBI recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40. Different guidelines apply to women at higher risk. A screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages.

Special Offers for October
For the month of October, Merit Health Wesley’s Breast Care Center is offering a 2D screening mammogram for $99 or a 3D screening mammogram for $149. The Breast Care Center is located on the first floor of the hospital. Mammograms can be scheduled by calling (601) 261-6744.

To learn more about women’s health services at Merit Health Wesley, MeritHealthWesley.com/womens-health.

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