Most women have heard that they should get a yearly screening mammogram at age 40, but according to the Centers of Disease Control only 62 percent of women ages 40 to 49 and 74 percent of women ages 50 to 64 received a mammogram in 2008. If mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages, then why aren’t all women getting their mammograms? 

Here are a few common questions many women have about mammograms. 

• If I receive an abnormal mammogram, does that mean I have cancer? “Not all abnormal mammograms mean cancer,” says Heather Strittmatter, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Craig Ranch. “Benign tumors, cysts and calcifications can produce abnormal mammogram results.” If you’re called back for more images, don’t panic, but do follow up in a timely manner.
• Is having a digital mammogram a different experience than having a film mammogram? “From the patient’s perspective, film and digital mammograms are performed the same way,” says Dr. Strittmatter. Both require breast compression that can be uncomfortable but lasts only a few minutes. “But digital mammography, which produces images that can be viewed and stored on a computer, means better image quality, faster processing time, the ability to magnify and manipulate the images and the need for fewer retakes due to under or overexposure of the film,” says Dr. Strittmatter.

Some women struggle to fit a mammogram into their schedules. That’s why Baylor Plano now offers extended hours and some Saturday appointments for mammography. You also can turn your mammogram screening into a spa day.  Four times each year, Baylor Plano offers a SPA DAY with advanced digital screening mammography that includes a Bath & Body Works®* gift set, five-minute chair massage and refreshments. 

• Digital mammography is more effective in early detection of breast cancer than film or computed radiography. It’s covered by most insurance plans.
• We’re here at your convenience. We offer three locations for your spa day.
• Superior Quality. We are the first hospital in Collin County accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), and the only accredited community hospital comprehensive cancer program.  

Call 1.800.4BAYLOR to schedule your digital screening mammogram spa day. Learn more about our three convenient mammography locations and our extended hours. 

*While supplies last, one gift per customer, not applicable to past mammograms. *An annual mammogram is covered by most insurance plans. Co-pays will be billed at a later date. Please bring your insurance card and a photo ID to your appointment. Call for pricing on self-pay appointments. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.