MRI Breast Coil available at Sidney Health Center

At age 40, women are recommended to start yearly mammograms to monitor their breast health.  Some women, who have dense breasts or have a higher than average lifetime risk for breast cancer, may be referred to have Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the breast, which captures multiple images to create detailed pictures.

Not all hospital and imaging centers have breast MRI equipment, which can lead to traveling long distances for medical care.  Fortunately, Sidney Health Center has a MRI Breast Coil and two on-site radiologists, Dr. Jennifer Adams and Dr. Leszek Jaszczak, that can interpret the images and make recommendations based on the breast MRI images.

A breast MRI is used with a mammogram or other breast-imaging test — not as a replacement for a mammogram. Although it is a sensitive test, a breast MRI can still miss some breast cancers that a mammogram will detect.

Your doctor may recommend a breast MRI if:

• You have been diagnosed with breast cancer and your doctor wants to determine the extent of the cancer
• You have a suspected leak or rupture of a breast implant
• You are at high risk of breast cancer, as calculated by risk tools that account for your family history and other risk factors
• You have a strong family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
• You have very dense breast tissue, and mammograms didn't detect a prior breast cancer
• You have a history of precancerous breast changes and a strong family history of breast cancer and dense breast tissue
• You have a hereditary breast cancer gene mutation, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
• You had radiation treatments to your chest area before age 30

Individuals should visit with their doctor or advanced practice provider to help determine and understand their personal risk and screening options.

During the month of October, the Sidney Health Center mammography staff is offering evening mammograms to increase access for this important screening.  In addition, Sidney Health Center will donate a portion of proceeds from each mammogram completed in October to the Richland County Cancer Coalition Aid Fund.  This fund helps area residents, who have been diagnosed with cancer, offset any costs they may incur with their diagnosis. It also helps ease some of the anxiety of battling a life-threatening disease.

Individuals, 40 years or older, can schedule a screening mammogram without a referral notice by calling the Sidney Health Center outpatient coordinator at 406-488-2195.

Source: Mayo Clinic