Screenings & Risk Assessments
Breast Health Screenings
Every day, we learn more about breast cancer and how to beat it. One fact is clear – early detection is key. The earlier it's discovered, the earlier it's treated and the better your chances of survival.
Mammograms are the only test proven to decrease the chances of dying from breast cancer. Also, identifying your personal risk factors through our comprehensive and confidential risk assessment can help you take steps to reduce your risks of developing breast or any other type of women’s cancer.
If breast cancer is detected before it spreads, the five-year survival rate jumps to 96 percent. And studies have shown that women between the ages of 50 and 69 who have regular mammograms may reduce their risk of death from breast cancer by one-third.
At The Retreat Women’s Health Center at Indiana University Health Goshen, we put the best breast cancer detection technology in the hands of our expert team. Our state-of-the-art, full-field digital mammography system produces computerized breast images that are clearer, more accurate and much faster than traditional film. In a screening mammogram, we take two X-ray pictures of each breast. This imaging test can identify abnormalities, such as very small lumps, areas of calcification or other changes in the breast. According to the FDA, mammography can find 85 to 90 percent of breast cancers in women over 50 and discover a lump up to two years before it can be felt.
Our specialists at IU Health Goshen Physicians, IU Health Goshen Center for Cancer Care and our group of radiologists at The Retreat Women's Health Center advise women to get a mammogram and clinical breast exam once a year. If you’re between the ages of 20 and 39, a clinical breast exam should be completed once every three years. All women over age 20 should conduct monthly breast self-exams. Beyond regular screenings, a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment can help you head off breast cancer before it becomes a threat – especially if you have no family history of the disease.
If you have an abnormal screening mammogram or detected lump, we suggest a diagnostic mammogram as a follow-up procedure. Although the procedure is similar for both types of mammograms, a diagnostic test produces more images for greater clarification. Breast MRI can also be used in addition to a mammogram for women who are at a high risk for developing breast cancer.
Scheduled mammogram appointments or walk-in mammograms are available at The Retreat during early morning hours or late evening on weekdays and most Saturdays. For specific hours or to schedule your mammogram, please call 574.364.4000 or toll free 877.966.2671. You do not need a physician’s referral for a screening mammogram.