Mammography

Mammograms are one of the most-discussed cancer screenings. And with good reason: Mammograms offer a simple way to help detect breast cancer early, when it may be more easily treated.

Health care providers may also recommend regular screening mammograms for younger women, based on certain risk factors like a family history of breast cancer.

Adventist Health Portland offers two convenient locations where you can have your mammogram done in a friendly, comfortable environment: at our southeast Portland health campus and at Gresham Station Imaging. Both locations offer traditional mammography and enhanced 3D mammography.

Your mammogram at Adventist Health

Mammography is a form of X-ray that creates an image of your internal breast tissue. During the procedure, a specially trained technologist positions and compresses the breast to obtain an optimal image.

Because this can be uncomfortable, Adventist Health’s mammography specialists use a soft cover to make the procedure more comfortable. In fact, we take great care to make the whole experience as easy on you as possible.

Once images are taken, a breast-trained physician examines the pictures to look for abnormal or possibly cancerous tissue. Mammograms can even find lumps too small to feel during a self-exam or a physical exam by your provider.

What if they find something?

It's not uncommon to find something abnormal on a mammogram. That doesn't mean you have cancer. In fact, more than 90 percent of women who have a finding on their screening mammogram are actually cancer-free. Benign findings include:

• Noncancerous tumors
• Unusually dense or asymmetric tissue
• Breast cysts

Any finding still makes most patients worried. We will make a plan with you to get clearer answers. This plan might include:

• Ultrasound
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Biopsy

We understand how worrisome any finding can feel, so we do our best to keep you informed as we make a plan to figure out what exactly we found on your screening mammogram.

There are many benign findings in the breast such as noncancerous tumors, unusually dense or asymmetric tissue, and breast cysts. Sometimes these findings require additional imaging.

Why mammograms matter

Regular mammograms can help you and your health care provider track any changes in your breasts as time goes by. Early detection of any changes means any needed treatment has the best chance of a great outcome. Your mammogram may also detect lumps or masses far earlier than you or your provider may find with a physical exam.

Mammograms are a very personal and sometimes uncomfortable experience. We are committed to making them as painless and as comfortable as possible.

Our locations

We offer mammograms at two locations:

• Professional Building #3, across from the medical center and Pavilion in southeast Portland
• Gresham Station imaging center

To schedule your mammogram at either location, call (503) 251-6137.