At Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s Breast Center, our breast health providers recommend an annual screening mammogram after the age of 40 per American Board of Radiology guidelines. But, why?
Here are just a few reasons:
- About 1 in 8 women (estimated 13%) will develop breast cancer throughout their lifetime.
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women.
- In 2021, it’s estimated that 30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
Breast cancer screening has been proven to find cancers at an earlier and more treatable stage with a greater chance of a cure. At Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s Breast Center, we do not simply perform mammograms — we educate patients about how they can avoid or fight breast cancer.
The National Accreditation Program fully accredits Portsmouth Regional Hospital for Breast Centers (NAPBC). This highly sought-after accreditation status elevates Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s breast program. This means that every person seeking and receiving care at our facility gets the best-in-class care from a team of physicians and nurses who have special training and skills in diseases of the breast — both benign breast conditions and breast cancer alike.
References:
- American Cancer Society. How Common is Breast Cancer? Jan. 2021.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021.