Roswell Park Now Offering Screening Mammograms for General Public

Mammography is only test proven to reduce breast cancer mortality, yet up to 50% of women not getting screened as recommended

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) announces the expansion of its breast imaging services to the general public, offering routine screening mammography to non-patients in an effort to improve breast cancer screening rates and increase detection of breast cancer at the earliest, most curable stages. Current statistics show that as many as half the women who should be receiving an annual mammogram are not getting this important cancer screening.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our technology and expertise for breast cancer detection to all women,” says Ermelinda Bonaccio, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at Roswell Park. “Cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment are our specialty. Applying our capabilities to breast cancer screening is an important part of our mission.”

Mammography is the only screening test that’s proven to reduce a woman’s risk of dying from the disease. But in the City of Buffalo, a lack of facilities that offer mammography screening makes it more difficult for women to get the screening.

“Currently, there are only five U.S. Food and Drug Administration-certified mammography centers in operation in the City of Buffalo, including Roswell Park; in 2012, there were 11 facilities,” says Christy Widman, a Community Outreach Manager with the Western New York Cancer Coalition (WNYC2) Center to Reduce Disparities at Roswell Park. In addition, Erie County has the highest breast cancer mortality rate compared to the rest of New York State and has the highest breast cancer mortality rate among African-Americans in the state, too.

A new and larger Breast Imaging Center will be located within the 11-story Clinical Sciences Center, currently under construction adjacent to the main Roswell Park hospital, but the need for these services was deemed too urgent to wait for the building’s completion.

At Roswell Park, screening mammograms are batch read by two Roswell Park radiologists. Studies show this method of batch reading lowers the rate of false positives, which means fewer women need to return for additional images.

The breast imaging and diagnostic services now available to the general public include:

  • Mammography, both screening and diagnostic types
  • Advanced breast imaging such as ultrasound, breast MRI and digital mammography
  • Minimally invasive breast biopsy
  • Pathology analysis by pathologists who focus exclusively on breast cancer
  • Access to genetic counseling, the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention Program for those at high risk of developing cancer and the multidisciplinary breast cancer care team.

Afternoon and evening appointments (3 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.) are reserved for women getting a screening mammogram, and free onsite parking is provided. Appointments take approximately 30 minutes, and women receive a personal phone call the following morning with their results.

Roswell Park recommends that women at average risk should begin yearly mammograms at age 40. Personal risk factors such as family history of the disease may warrant screening beginning at an earlier age. Women should discuss their personal factors with their healthcare providers. Women who may be at high risk for breast cancer — due to a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, increased breast density, a known gene mutation, or previous abnormal breast biopsies — may benefit from Roswell Park’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Prevention Program, which offers surveillance, diagnostic and preventive options. Call 1-877-ASK-Roswell Park to find out if you’re eligible for this program.

Roswell Park is a provider for the New York State Breast Cancer Services Program, which provides funding for mammograms and diagnostic services for women without insurance or who have high co-pays and/or deductibles.

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The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Media Contact

Annie Deck-Miller, Senior Media Relations Manager
716-845-8593; annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org