Breast Care Center

Manatee Memorial Breast Care Center of excellence

The Breast Care Center at Manatee Memorial Hospital is proud to have earned the Breast Center of Excellence designation from the American College of Radiology (ACR). By awarding facilities the status of Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound guided breast biopsy). Additionally the hospital has earned the ACR accreditation designation in Breast MRI.

You're Never Too Busy for Your Annual Mammogram

Early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. An annual mammogram should be your number-one priority...and it takes only a few minutes.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is most treatable in its early stages, and the best form of early detection is mammography.

When you come to the Manatee Memorial Breast Care Center, you will receive instructions for monthly breast self-examination, as well as a safe, complete digital mammogram. The highly trained female staff, registered mammography technologists and interpreting radiologists, and our equipment are all accredited by the American College of Radiology and certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Breast Care Center Features Advanced Technology

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breasts — one of the safest, most effective means of detecting cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages. The equipment used in our advanced breast health system produces images with high contrast and high definition for detailed visualization of the breast.

The Breast Care Center uses the advanced technology of:

• Lorad Selenia® Digital Mammography System
  Specially designed digital detectors capture images by converting X-rays into an electrical signal that is sent to a computer for review by the radiologist.
• Computer Aided Detection (CAD)
  This technology provides a "second read" of mammograms by a computer, assisting the radiologist in making an accurate diagnosis.
• Breast Ultrasound
  Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that can produce an image of the internal structures of the breast to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.
• Breast MRI – Siemens Magnetom Symphony 1.5T
  This open-bore MRI enables head or feet access with shorter exam times for patient comfort.
• Siemens MammoTest Breast Biopsy Technology
  This breast biopsy system, together with the AutoGuide targeting and guidance system, lets the patient remain in a comfortable position while allowing for greater access to hard-to-reach lesions and calcifications.

MammoPad® Makes Mammograms More Comfortable

Manatee Memorial's Breast Care Center offers MammoPad®, the soft foam pad that provides a cushion between the breast and the mammogram machine, making the experience more gentle and comfortable. The Breast Care Center is a certified softer mammogram provider, a distinction that shows our patients that we are committed to their comfort and well-being.

Preparing for Your Mammogram

1. It is best to schedule your mammogram for 7-10 days after menstruation begins.
2. Bring your previous mammogram films or request they be sent to the Breast Care Center, so they can be compared to the new ones.
3. On the day of your mammogram, do not wear deodorant or powder on your breasts or in the underarm area. Such substances can cause artifacts on the image, making it necessary to repeat the mammogram.
4. The technologist must compress your breasts in order to visualize the internal structures properly. At the Breast Care Center, the MammoPad will help to reduce the discomfort.
5. Return to the Manatee Memorial Breast Care Center for your next digital mammogram, so your new images can be compared more quickly and accurately to your previous ones.

Screening Guidelines for Early Detection of Breast Cancer, 2010

According to the American Cancer Society:

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40
•  A clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health examination should be given every three years to women in their 20s and 30s. Asymptomatic women aged 40 and older should continue to undergo a clinical breast exam, preferably annually.
• Women should be educated about the benefits and limitations of breast self-examination beginning in their early 20s. They should be encouraged to report any breast changes promptly to their healthcare providers.