Breast Cancer

Early breast screenings help reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer. Our leading-edge imaging detects cancer even in dense breast tissue.

Breast cancer screening guidelines

• We recommend annual screening mammograms starting at age 40 for women without symptoms.
• It’s important to stay on top of your mammograms. Routine imaging can detect even the slightest of changes.
• If you have symptoms, a diagnostic mammogram may be needed.
• If you're at higher risk due to genetics or other factors, talk to your doctor about starting screening earlier. Discuss your personal and family cancer history to determine the best approach for you.

You’re considered high-risk if you:

• Are 20+ years old with family members diagnosed with breast cancer at or before the age of 50
• Have a known gene mutation in your family associated with increased breast cancer risk
• Have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
• Have close relatives with a history of breast cancer
• Have a family history of male breast cancer
• Had chest-wall radiation
• Have been told breast tissue is dense

Driving screening to you

Sometimes, it can be a challenge getting to one of our care locations for screening. Enter our Mobile Mammography Unit, a 45-foot bus nicknamed “Betty.” We’ve been hitting the road in Southwest and West Michigan for more than 25 years, with the goal of making it easier for women to get a mammogram. By providing outreach to those with location, social, or financial barriers, our team can help ensure that everyone who needs a mammogram can get one.

Early breast cancer can be hard to detect without regular screenings, but also be familiar with your breasts and be aware of these warning signs:

Changes in appearance

• Asymmetry (one breast appearing larger than the other)

• Dimples, swelling, or shrinking in one breast
• Inverted nipple (turning inward)
• Scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola, sometimes with pitting or ridges
• Unexplained change in breast size or shape

Changes in sensation

• Any unusual texture or change in breast tissue

• Lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
• Persistent, localized breast pain or tenderness

Nipple discharge

• Any discharge when not pregnant or breastfeeding, especially if bloody or clear

If you notice any of these signs, contact your primary care doctor for an exam.

Your diagnosis and treatment path starts with our radiology team. We’ll conduct a mammogram, ultrasound, or possibly an MRI to ensure we get all the information we need to provide an accurate diagnosis. You will be notified of your level of breast density because this can contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer.

If screening suggests an issue, we may need to do other testing. If there is breast cancer, we can also classify it by stage, which helps us understand how many cancer cells are in your body and decide on the best treatment for you.

The stages of breast cancer are:

• Stage 0 – Abnormal cells are in the tissue, but they have not spread to other areas of the breast
• Stages I, II and III – The cancer has started to spread into other parts of the breast
• Stage IV – The cancer has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body 

Our multi-specialty teams are experts in various areas of medicine. They will meet with you to discuss your treatment options, coordinate next steps, and answer questions. From there, you’ll receive a personalized plan and we’ll make sure it’s clear and simple to follow.

Treatment options could include:

• Biological therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormonal therapy
• Proton therapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy, or reconstruction)