Mammography

The Lacks Cancer Center’s Breast Services suite provides four mammography units, an on-site radiologist and computer-assisted diagnosis along with a comprehensive selection of educational and preventative offerings. Because mammography is still considered the gold standard for breast imaging tests, mammograms—along with self-breast exams and physician exams—are an essential part of maintaining healthy breasts, particularly for women age 40 and over, and those who have a significant family history of breast cancer.

What to Expect. During a mammography, the breast is compressed for stabilization, to even out the tissue and increase picture quality. Then images of the breast are taken from every angle using low-dose X-rays based on American Cancer Society guidelines. After an initial mammogram, some women may have areas of concern that can't be diagnosed with only the information available from the screening mammogram. This does not necessarily point to a malignancy, however, in these cases, we would perform an additional diagnostic mammogram to rule out cancer.

To schedule a Mammogram, ask your primary care physician for a referral or make a self-referral by calling 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-752-LACK(S).