Holy Family Hospital and its team of board-certified radiologists provide advanced breast imaging services, from full-field digital mammography and breast MRI to cutting-edge technologies such as 3-D mammography.
Breast Care
Breast Care Center at Holy Family Hospital
Digital mammography is the most effective method of early detection in the fight against breast cancer. This technology offers women a number of benefits, including improved image quality, reduced procedure time and enhanced patient comfort.
Our breast care services include:
- Low-dose mammography
- Ultrasound
- Stereotactic and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and core biopsy
- 3-D mammography (offered at the Methuen and Haverhill campuses)
Flexible appointments are available, including evenings and Saturday hours. A physician referral for a screening mammogram is not required.
Mammograms
One out of eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. That’s why breast exams are such an important aid in early detection, especially for women over 35. A mammography exam can detect a tumor long before you can feel it. Such early detection of breast cancer can save your life. It can also give you an opportunity to choose between treatment options.
Mammogram and breast examination guidelines:
- If you are between the ages of 20 and 40, you should perform a breast self-examination every month and have a breast examination by a physician every three years
- If you are between the ages of 30 and 35 and have a strong family history of breast cancer, you should have a mammogram
- If you are 35 or over, a baseline mammogram should be done for later comparison
- By age 40, you should do a breast self-examination every month, have a breast exam by a physician and a mammography every year
- After age 50, you should continue your breast self-examination every month, and have a physician breast exam and mammogram every year
Because breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, every woman should consider herself at risk. However, the following factors put you at higher risk for breast cancer:
- Over 50 years old
- Previous breast cancer or benign breast disease
- Family history of breast cancer (especially maternal)x
- No full-term pregnancies
- Pregnancy of first child after age 30
- Early menstruation (before age 13)
- Late menopause (after age 52)
- Diet high in fat
- Obesity
Since most breast cancers are discovered by women themselves, it is important for you to know what to look for:
- A lump or thickening in the breast
- A change in breast shape
- Discharge from the nipple
- Skin changes (color, texture, consistency)
- Puckering or dimpling
- Nipple inversion (pulling inward)
Holy Family Hospital possesses a valid Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mammography License and Certificate of Inspection from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and is accredited by the American College of Radiology.
MEET THE TEAM / FIND A PROVIDER
Breast Care Team
Jonathan Gordon, MD
Surgery, Vascular surgery
Romie Mundy II, MD
Surgery, Colon & rectal surgery
