The content below is provided by Sentara Health, a sponsor of H4TG’s A Calendar to Live By/Guide to Caring for Yourself.
Content provided by Sentara Healthcare McLeskey Comprehensive Breast Center at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center
Kara Friend, M.D., FACS, breast surgeon at Sentara Surgery Specialists
Screening for breast cancer allows for earlier detection, diagnosis, and more effective treatment. Sentara recommends annual mammograms as one of the methods to diagnose breast cancer earlier.
Since 1990, breast cancer death rates in the U.S. have declined progressively due to advancements in treatment and detection. Despite this positive national trend, all cities in Hampton Roads exceed the Healthy People 2030 target for age-adjusted death rate due to breast cancer.
That means we need to work together to find cancers earlier, when they are most treatable. We have developed two programs that will help us to reach this goal: mobile mammography and a high-risk breast program.
3D Mobile Mammography
In early 2023, Sentara Leigh Hospital unveiled a new 3D mobile mammography van, bringing a critical health service directly into neighborhoods and communities. The 3D unit replaced a previous 2D unit, providing more accurate images and efficient diagnoses, and lowering the need for additional mammograms.
Partnering with local organizations and businesses, this community-focused resource aims to reach underserved areas of Hampton Roads. It targets barriers to care such as reliable transportation, and aims to provide affordable care, prorating costs for uninsured patients.
The new 3D Mobile Mammography unit has been a huge success in providing preventive breast cancer screenings through accessible mammograms and in creating important partnerships to promote healthier communities.
High Risk Breast Program
While the two strongest risk factors for developing breast cancer are being female and getting older, there are additional factors which can increase the risk of breast cancer at any age.
Sentara’s High Risk Breast Program aims to identify women who are at higher risk for developing breast cancer and provide them with the tools and resources to be proactive about their health.
The program offers genetic counseling and testing, clinical breast exams and education on breast density, risk reduction strategies, and additional surveillance imaging in alignment with national guidelines.
Patients may be referred to the program by their provider or may be identified as being "high risk" during a mammogram at one of our breast centers based on personal or family history.
Prevention, screening, and early detection are the best weapons in the fight against breast cancer.
Through the High Risk Breast Program, we support patients who may otherwise not know or understand their risk by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to make important healthcare decisions. The program initiates next steps for care for all patients, regardless of resources.
Sentara has several High Risk Breast Program locations across Virginia, including Sentara Port Warwick, Sentara Brock Cancer Center and EVMS (Sentara Norfolk General Hospital campus).
To learn more about the High Risk Breast Program and 3D Mobile Mammography please visit sentara.com/mammo.