Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country other than skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the nation, following lung cancer.

In recent years, the death rate among women diagnosed with breast cancer has been steadily declining ... probably the result of earlier detection and better treatment methods. Regular screenings to help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable, are among the most effective things women can do to increase their chance of surviving the disease. That's why doctors recommend that women begin monthly self-exams and regular clinical breast exams at age 20, and annual mammograms starting at age 40.

Getting a mammogram is the right thing to do. Now, digital mammography technology, coupled with soft MammoPad® breast cushions, makes getting a mammogram easier, quicker and more comfortable than ever. With digital mammography, doctors can get a clearer image that can help them spot masses as small as a grain of rice. The Breast Care Center at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center offers a comprehensive slate of screening and diagnostic services, including:

Digital Mammography
Digital mammography provides a number of advantages over traditional screen film mammography, including:

• Digital mammography provides sharper, more detailed images than screen film imaging.
• Studies have shown that the use of digital mammography equipment results in a significant increase in the number of breast cancers detected in women 50 and younger, or women with dense breasts, than with traditional film imaging.
• Quicker mammograms because there is no need to wait for film images to be developed.
• Images can be viewed immediately by technologists and radiologists.
• Images can be easily and quickly transferred electronically, with no loss of image quality.
• Computers can help radiologists detect micro-calcifications that may be missed on traditional film mammograms.

MammoPad® for comfort
The Breast Care Center at Summerlin Hospital Medical 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. Providing MammoPads for patients shows that the Breast Care Center is committed to the comfort and wellbeing of its patients.

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.

Stereotactic Biopsy
A stereotactic biopsy may be used when a physician cannot feel lump that was found on a mammogram. Doctors use mammographic images and computer technology and combine them to determine the exact location of an abnormality to obtain a sample of breast tissue through the use of a long needle. A pathologist then examines the tissue sample to make a diagnosis.

Bone Density Screening
Bone density screenings measure the strength of your bones by testing how dense they are. Screenings can show if you have osteoporosis or may get it, detect if you are at risk of fractures and help your healthcare provider monitor your progress through treatment. Bone density tests are painless, simple and quick. And, with early detection, the effects of osteoporosis can be substantially slowed.