During breast cancer awareness month Gifford’s Breast Care Navigator, Jennifer Hubert, reminds you of the importance of regular breast self-exams and mammograms. According to the American College of Radiology’s guidelines, women should start having mammograms annually starting at age 40.
“There’s a lot of information out there about when is the right to time to start having mammograms,” Hubert said. “This should be a conversation between the patient and her provider, but our team at Gifford believes starting at age 40 is the best.”
Hubert has worked in mammography since 2005 and became a certified breast cancer navigator in the spring of 2021, her work includes supporting Gifford patients facing a breast cancer diagnosis.
“Mammography has a reputation of being painful, but we call it discomfort. We are highly trained and work with you on repositioning techniques to ease the discomfort. Gifford also used Mammo Pads, a foam pad that goes between the imaging receptor and breast.”
A mammography shouldn’t be painful, but If it is, Hubert suggests speaking up to your technologist about repositioning or going slower.
Monthly self-checks are also encouraged. The best time to do it is in the shower using your soapy fingers to feel around the breast for something that may seem different than regular tissue.
“Be familiar with your breast tissue, then it will be much easier to recognize when something doesn’t feel right,” Hubert said.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Gifford encourages you to schedule your mammogram now. Any patient who receives a mammogram at Gifford during the month receives a goodie bag and is entered into a raffle to win a gift basket.
“Yearly mammograms save lives. We can make it comfortable and not scary, because it’s really important to do,” Hubert said. “I’ve had many patients, young and old, come in with lumps. Some patients we found nothing, but others have been diagnosed with cancer. Luckily, many of those patients caught it early and are on the road to recovery.”
Anyone can get breast cancer, regardless of family history or the size of the breast. Schedule your yearly screening mammogram at Gifford by contacting our Radiology Department at (802) 728-2214. Please feel free to contact our Breast Care Navigator Jennifer Hubert at (802) 728-2231 with any questions or concerns about the mammography process.
