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Breast Care

At Columbia Memorial Hospital, we are here for you whether you need a routine mammogram, you've found a breast lump or you need breast cancer treatment.

Our highly trained team is dedicated to bringing you personalized care, ensuring your comfort and empowering you with information. Those are among the hallmarks of our person-centered focus.

Breast cancer screening with 3-D mammograms

When it's time for your routine breast cancer screening, we have the most accurate and comfortable mammogram available — the Genius 3-D mammography exam with SmartCurve. Why get a 3-D mammogram at CMH? For starters, it:

  • Provides better, earlier breast cancer detection compared to 2-D alone.
  • Offers increased comfort. The paddles used to compress the breasts for the exam are curved, more like a natural breast.
  • Reduces the chance that you will be called back for additional testing if you have dense breasts.

Every mammogram we perform is interpreted by a board-certified radiologist who is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). In addition, our mammogram facility is ACR-certified and Mammography Quality Standards Act certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as providing quality mammograms.

Financial assistance may be available to help pay for mammograms and other screening or diagnostic procedures to rule out breast or cervical cancer. Please call CMH Patient Financial Services at 503.338.7530 to learn more.

You do not need an order from your doctor to get a screening mammogram. However, diagnostic mammograms and other breast imaging services do require a referral.

To schedule your mammogram, please call 503.338.7525.

Additional breast imaging services

We offer many other breast health services in addition to screening mammograms. These include:

  • Diagnostic 3-D and 2-D mammograms to check for breast cancer after a lump has been found or to evaluate changes in the breast found during a screening mammogram.
  • Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to screen women at high risk for breast cancer.
  • Needle breast biopsies using the latest image-guided techniques.
Regular screenings help find breast cancer early, when it's often easier to treat.
Mammograms - feel more confident. Steps to take.

Reviewed 2/23/2023

Mammograms

Tips for your ease, comfort and an accurate exam

Regular mammograms help find cancer in its early stages, when it's usually easier to treat. In fact, when breast cancer is detected before it spreads, the average 5-year survival rate is 99%.

PLAN AHEAD

Schedule your mammogram for the week after your period, when your breasts are less likely to be swollen and tender. If you have implants, tell the facility when you make the appointment.

Arrange for any previous mammograms to be sent for comparison. Or get copies to bring with you.

WHAT TO AVOID

On the day of your mammogram, don't use deodorant, powders, lotions or perfumes on your chest or arms. These products can show up as white spots on your mammogram, affecting its accuracy.

HOW TO DRESS

Wear a top or blouse—with pants or a skirt—rather than a dress. That way, you'll only need to undress from the waist up.

SPEAK UP AT YOUR EXAM

Let the technologist know about any concerns you have about your breasts.

KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

Find out when and how you'll be notified of the results of your mammogram.

PROTECT YOUR FUTURE

Women age 45 or older should get regular mammograms, according to the American Cancer Society. Women with a high risk of breast cancer should start screening earlier.

Review your risk for breast cancer with your doctor, and determine a screening schedule that’s right for you.

What's your personal risk of breast cancer?

With this assessment tool, you can learn more about what raises breast cancer risk and which of those factors apply to you.

GET STARTED

Sources: American Cancer Society; RadiologyInfo.org

Sources

Breast cancer treatment and support

If you receive a breast cancer diagnosis, you can get exceptional treatment and support at the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative. Knowledge is power on a breast cancer journey, and every woman is different. That's why we provide you with information about your diagnosis and treatment options that are best suited for your situation. We're here for you every step of the way.

Treatments our expert team provide include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

We also offer services you many need prior to breast cancer treatment, including:

  • Nuclear medicine sentinel node biopsy, to see if breast cancer has spread.
  • Pre-operative breast procedures. Women having a breast-sparing lumpectomy often need a procedure called breast lesion localization. This is often done by implanting a wire in the breast to guide the surgeon to the tumor. We use a radiofrequency device, instead of a wire, to minimize trauma to the breast tissue.

To learn more about breast cancer treatment and support at CMH, please call 503.338.4589.