Breast Cancer Screening Information

Early Detection Saves Lives

Nzoya Foundation is dedicated to breast cancer awareness and early detection in the Pacific North West. Learn about screening options and schedule your screening today.

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About Breast Cancer Screening

Early Detection Matters

Breast cancer screening focuses on finding the disease early when it is easier to treat. Screening tests are done on a regular schedule for people with no breast cancer symptoms. These tests identify signs that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Regular screenings are important because the earlier we detect the disease, the better. People with smaller, early-stage breast cancer have more treatment options and a better chance for a full recovery and a long, healthy life.

Our Expertise

Our breast health experts provide screening tests and can help you decide what is right for you. This depends on your age, health, risk level, and other factors. The screenings we recommend — 3D mammogram and sometimes breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) — are based on the best scientific evidence.

The technologists and radiologists who perform and interpret your screenings specialize in breast imaging and exceed national standards.

Types of Breast Screening

Mammograms

Mammograms save lives by finding cancers early. A mammogram uses X-rays to take images of your breast. We use 3D mammography (digital breast tomosynthesis) for all patients.

Who needs a screening mammogram?

We recommend women 40 or older have a screening mammogram every year if they are at average risk for breast cancer. If you are at higher-than-average risk, you may need screenings earlier and more often.

Breast MRI

Breast MRI uses strong magnetic fields to create an image of your breast. It can help detect breast cancers that are harder to see on a mammogram, making it a powerful tool for high-risk patients.

Who needs a screening breast MRI?

We recommend annual screening breast MRI, along with a mammogram, if you have a lifetime risk for breast cancer of at least 20 to 25 percent, had radiation therapy to your chest between ages 10-30, or have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer.

Breast Exams

Physical exams, done either by a healthcare provider or on your own, are another tool to help find breast changes that might signal cancer.

Self-examination tips

We encourage you to regularly inspect and feel your breasts so you know what is normal for you and what is new or different. Seek medical attention if you feel a new lump or notice changes in the appearance of your breasts.

Schedule a Screening

Our Service Region 📍

Serving the entire Pacific Northwest region

Call 425.555.1234 to request a screening mammogram or breast MRI.

Breast Cancer Screening Request Form

Please fill out this form to schedule a screening or request more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

3D mammography is a way to take many pictures of your breast at once so physicians can see your breast tissue in detail. This improves the odds of finding true cancers early. It also leads to fewer false alarms.

2D mammography takes one image of your breast from above and one from the side. 3D mammography takes many images from both angles, creating a stack of thin layers for radiologists to examine.

Breast density refers to the amount of normal, non-fatty tissue seen in a mammogram. Dense breasts (higher levels of non-fatty tissue) can make cancer harder to see in mammograms and have been linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.

About half of patients who get a screening mammogram have dense breasts. If you have dense breasts, breast health specialists will talk with you about what it means for you.

For most patients, the benefits of getting a mammogram outweigh the risks. Potential risk include: Cancers may not be visible on mammograms, false alarms, and mammograms require a small amount of radiation, though the level is very safe.

Different organizations have different recommendations. What's important is to have screenings regularly on a schedule that matches your risk and preferences.