Grand Lake Health technologist urges women to prioritize annual mammograms

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a Grand Lake Health System mammography technologist is encouraging women to make time for potentially lifesaving screenings.

Lisa Roettger has worked at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital for nearly 21 years. She said mammography technology has changed significantly during that time, progressing from film that required development in a darkroom to digital images that can be reviewed almost immediately.

Roettger said Joint Township follows recommendations from the American College of Radiology, which encourage women to receive a baseline mammogram between ages 35 and 40 and annual screenings after age 40.

Anyone experiencing a lump, pain or another breast-related concern should not wait for a routine screening and should instead contact a healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Roettger said family history can increase a person’s risk, but breast cancer can also affect people without known risk factors. Men should also speak with a doctor if they discover a lump or other concerning change.

Joint Township offers 3D mammography, which provides clearer images through breast tissue and requires less aggressive compression than older technology. Patients can also use a handheld remote to control the amount of compression during the examination.

A mammogram is also the primary way to determine breast density. Roettger said dense breast tissue can make abnormalities more difficult to identify, but additional screening options may be available, including breast MRI and whole-breast ultrasound.

Joint Township also offers contrast-enhanced mammography, which uses injected contrast to help highlight areas of concern. Roettger said the test may be useful for patients with dense breast tissue, those already diagnosed with breast cancer or those who cannot undergo an MRI.

Other available services include breast ultrasound, MRI and image-guided biopsies. Diagnostic mammograms are used when a patient has symptoms or when a radiologist requests additional images following a screening.

Roettger said the hospital attempts to have a radiologist available during diagnostic appointments so patients can receive results before leaving. If an ultrasound is needed, the staff also tries to complete it during the same visit.

A routine screening appointment generally includes four images and can be completed within 15 to 20 minutes.

Patients with a physician’s order can contact the hospital to schedule an appointment. Women without symptoms, breast implants or a personal history of breast cancer may also qualify to schedule a self-requested mammogram without a physician’s order.

Roettger said busy schedules often lead women to delay their own healthcare. She encouraged families and friends to remind the women in their lives to schedule their screenings and make their health a priority.