Breast health

Each year, over one million people are diagnosed with cancer, and approximately five to ten percent of those cancers are hereditary. However, only a small fraction of individuals with a hereditary predisposition learn that fact and get tested. We want to help you detect potential abnormalities in their earliest stages.

One in eight women in the United States alone have a chance of developing breast cancer, so it is typically recommended to begin yearly mammograms at age 40, unless otherwise advised. For example, if you have a family history of breast cancer or certain risk factors, you may be advised to start receiving mammograms at an earlier age. We conduct more than 13,000 mammograms each year, and our services are designed to ensure that you maintain maximum breast health.

The Advanced Diagnostic Breast Center has been designated by the American College of Radiology (ACR) as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence in mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), breast ultrasound and stereotactic biopsy. We are also accredited by the American College of Surgeons' for our diagnostic and imaging services, as a part of their National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Services that we offer include:

• Breast density evaluations — These tests measure more fibrous, dense breasts. Dense breasts sometimes have too much tissue for a mammogram to accurately identify potential abnormalities.
• Breast MRI — This radiation-free procedure uses magnets and radio waves to look deeper into the breast. This enables us to find complications that might not be visible through other types of exams.
• Breast ultrasound — Ultrasounds are painless, using noninvasive sound waves to diagnose breast lumps or other issues.
• Mammogram (2D and 3D) — Mammograms use low-doses of X-ray radiation to examine your breasts and show any changes in breast tissue.

3D mammograms are imaging tests that create three-dimensional pictures of your breast by combining multiple breast X-rays, including standard 2D mammogram images. Typically, 3D mammograms are used to look for cancer when there are no discernible signs or symptoms but are also used when there are tangible issues that need to get a closer look, such as a lump.

By combining three-dimensional imaging with standard mammograms, you can reduce the need for follow-up imaging, detect more cancers than 2D screenings and have greater clarity through denser breast tissue. 3D mammography is not available at most facilities, so we are proud to feature it in our hospital.

HCA Virginia Health System is excited to announce that we are formalizing our High-Risk Breast Program (HRBP) to screen and identify patients at an elevated risk for cancer. The program will be available for patients who receive breast imaging at both Johnston-Willis Hospital and the Advanced Diagnostic Breast Center at Henrico Doctors' Hospital.

Currently, only a small fraction of the people who have a higher risk of hereditary cancer complete genetic testing. This testing is important because it enables you to be proactive about your healthcare through screening and management recommendations which are tailored to you based on your risk. Our collaborative, comprehensive HRBP makes this process easier for you and your doctor. This means we can help identify more high-risk patients earlier than we could when using just paper questionnaires and other traditional methods.

We are thrilled to offer this program to provide a more personalized recommendation for your care and improve cancer prevention, early detection and targeted cancer treatments.

If you have questions about our HRBP, please contact the high-risk breast nurse navigator at (888) 740-7475 (RISK) — option 1 for north of the James River, option 2 for south of the James River.

You may have the need for additional screenings if you are classified as an intermediate- or high-risk patient, especially if you have dense breasts. As such, we provide three options for supplemental screenings:

• Abbreviated breast MRI (ABMRI)— testing where you are given an IV and positioned in the MRI scanner while you are injected with MRI contrast dye
• Contrast mammogram (CEM) — IV procedure that is performed after being injected with iodinated contrast dye
• Whole-breast ultrasound — ultrasound technology is used to examine your entire breast, not just a problem area

Other comprehensive components of our breast clinic include genetic counseling, smoking cessation programs, nutrition counseling and pharmaceutical risk reduction.

Women with dense breasts can have a greater risk of developing breast cancer than women without dense breasts. If you have dense breasts, it can be more difficult to identify cancerous tissues, even with 3D mammography. Supplemental screenings provide the use of various tools to examine your breast tissue for signs of breast cancer. These screenings can ultimately save lives and identify cancer earlier so that treatment can begin immediately.