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Breast CANCER SCREENING
WHEN BREAST CANCER IS DETECTED EARLY, A WOMAN HAS THE GREATEST RANGE OF TREATMENT OPTIONS AND THE GREATEST LIKELIHOOD OF A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.
Eevery woman has some risk of developing breast cancer. Women of average risk should begin having annual mammograms at age 40. For women at high risk for breast cancer, it may be best to start even sooner. Your doctor can help you determine your risk level.
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Women At Average Risk
All women at average risk of breast cancer, especially women of color, should have a risk assessment by age 30.
Angela Horlings
Santa Clarita resident Angela Horlings always had her routine mammograms at the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center. Although she missed the recommended date for her most recent routine screening mammogram by a few months, she had it done in April 2022.
The next day, the Breast Center staff called Horlings to schedule additional tests. Those tests revealed stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma.
“Never in a million years did I think I would get a breast cancer diagnosis,” Horlings says.
Horlings didn’t need chemotherapy, but she did have a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy.
During her next checkup last December, Horlings was thrilled to learn that her cancer was undetectable. The treatment she received was successful.
“Everyone at the Breast Center was caring, concerned and very thorough,” Horlings says.
“I was only a few months over my regular exam, proving just how prudent annual screenings truly are!”
According to guidelines from the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging, women should begin annual mammograms at age 40.
Women At High Risk
Speak to your primary care provider or radiologist or contact our High Risk Breast Clinic about the age to start screenings, the frequency of screenings, and what test(s) are needed. Factors that put a woman at high risk include:
• Genetic mutation associated with increased breast cancer risk (BRCA 1 and BRCA 2)
• History of chest radiation before age 30
• Family history of breast cancer
• Prior abnormal breast biopsy
• Personal or family history of ovarian cancer
• Very dense breasts
