The Benefits

Breast ultrasound has been shown to increase early detection rates of breast cancer from approximately 48 percent to 97 percent in women with dense breasts. Ultrasound is capable of detecting cancers that cannot be found by mammography and physical exams, making it an excellent procedure to add to normal women’s health routines. Breast ultrasounds are also painless, implant safe, use no compression or radiation and no prescription is needed.

Great for Dense Breasts

Dense breast tissue, as opposed to fatty breast tissue, is composed of more fibrous or glandular tissue than fat, making it much harder to read via a mammogram. Approximately half of all women in the U.S. have dense breast tissue. On a mammogram, dense tissue appears white, while cancerous tumors also appear white, making it nearly impossible to “see” the tumor. It’s like trying to find a snowball in a snowstorm. This is why ultrasounds are so critical for women with dense breast tissue as nearly half of all cancers are missed with mammography alone.

Ultrasound vs. Mammogram

While ultrasounds can detect a lot of things that mammography can miss, mammography can pick up microcalcifications and other concerning information that ultrasounds can miss. Both mammography and ultrasounds are more powerful when used together, not in place of one another. It’s important to know that, sometimes, mammograms and physical exams are simply not enough, particularly in women with dense breasts.

HerScan

HerScan is a mobile breast ultrasound screening company that provides access to breast ultrasound testing using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology utilized by highly experienced Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and board-certified radiologists.

The HerScan program makes it convenient and affordable for women to be scanned, adding invaluable protection to their annual health routines, helping and empowering women to do more for their breast health, resulting in higher cancer detection rates than with mammography alone. The power of an ultrasound can increase detection from approximately 48 percent to 97 percent in dense breasts.

Anasa Personalized Medicine, in Providence, Rhode Island, will host HerScan testing sessions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 9. Cost: $295. Location: 245 Waterman St., Ste. 308. For more information, call the practice at 401-270-1742 or email [email protected]. To register and schedule beforehand (required), visit HerScan.com.