Pacient.care Reveals 5 Critical Insights Women Must Know Before Their Annual Mammogram

ST. LOUIS - Sept. 15, 2016 - PRLog -- As women visit their doctors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pacient.care is sharing five significant insights women need to know (but probably don't) when it comes to their annual mammogram:

1      You may not need one. Recommendations vary as to when you should have an annual mammogram.

Women may not be aware that in 2015, the American Cancer Society (ACS) revised its guidelines and now recommends women start getting mammograms a little later in life and less frequently. Unless you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, the current recommendation is to wait until age 45 to have your first mammogram. However, there are several groups that disagree with the new guidelines. Pacient.care details mammogram guidelines in easy-to-understand language, allowing women to confidently manage their breast health.

2      Digital tomosynthesis may be a much better option than traditional mammography.

Not as well-known as mammography, digital tomosynthesis (also called 3-D mammography) captures images of breast tissue layer by layer. While a traditional mammography produces images that show the full thickness of the breast, a 3-D mammogram captures one-millimeter thick "slices" of breast tissue and makes it much easier for the radiologist to detect cysts, lumps and other irregularities. Depending on your breast type, 3-D mammography may be a better option for early detection. Pacient.care explains these two types of imaging in simple, nonclinical terms.

3      Your doctor may be legally obligated to tell you if you have dense breast tissue.

Do you have dense breast tissue? While the information was included in the radiologist's report, it wasn't typically shared with the patient. Currently 26 states have laws requiring doctors to notify patients when they have dense breast tissue. Pacient.care succinctly details why this is important.

4      Your annual mammogram could also help detect heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Calcium deposits found in the breast may signal heart disease. Researchers found that 70 percent of the women who had mammography-detected breast arterial calcification also had coronary arterial calcification. Pacient.care shares additional insights on this important finding in easy-to-understand, simple language.

5      BRCA genetic testing may not be available when you want it or need it.

The health care community has seen a tremendous spike in interest in genetic testing due to high-profile celebrities, such as Angelina Jolie, recently sharing their health experiences. Women worried about their risk of developing hereditary breast cancer are facing BRCA genetic test delays because there are too few qualified genetic counselors. In fact, there's only one certified genetic counselor for every 80,000 people in the U.S. Pacient.care provides specific details about genetic counselors.