Due for a mammogram during COVID-19? 7 things to know
BY Meagan Raeke
July 22, 2020
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by an MD Anderson Cancer Center medical professional on July 22, 2020
As our patients and caregivers know, cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19. And that means you shouldn’t stop getting your cancer screenings either.
Early on in the pandemic, you may have put off routine medical appointments, including your annual mammogram. But as cases continue to rise and we realize that COVID-19 will be with us for quite some time, you may be wondering if it’s OK to schedule routine cancer screenings, such as mammograms.
To find out, we spoke with Ethan Cohen, M.D., who sees patients at MD Anderson West Houston Diagnostic Imaging. Here are his answers to some common questions about breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is it safe to get a mammogram during the COVID-19 pandemic?
As long as you’re not feeling sick or having any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s safe to get a mammogram.
At MD Anderson, we’ve gone above and beyond to keep patients and employees safe when they’re on our campuses. For healthy women coming in for an annual mammogram, some of the key precautions include:
- Screening everyone for COVID-19 symptoms at entrances to all of our campuses.
- Providing medical face masks for everyone to wear on our campuses at all times.
- Limiting seating and spacing out appointments to allow for social distancing on campus, including in waiting and dressing rooms.
Learn more about the precautions MD Anderson is taking to protect the largest and densest population of immunocompromised patients in the world.
Why is it important for women to continue to get regular mammograms during the COVID-19 pandemic?
We know from many large clinical trials and observational studies that breast cancer screening saves lives. When breast cancer is found through screening, it’s more survivable than breast cancer found because of a lump or other symptoms. That’s because screening exams help find breast cancer at an earlier stage, when cancer is more treatable.
Most women should get an annual mammogram beginning at age 40. Women at increased risk for breast cancer may need more frequent screening, starting at a younger age.
Is my annual mammogram covered by insurance?
Breast cancer screening is covered as a preventive service for women age 40 and older. Since January 2019, all commercial insurance providers in Texas have been required to cover digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) – also known as a 3D mammogram – at no additional cost to patients.
What’s the benefit of a 3D mammogram?
A 3D mammogram takes multiple pictures of the breast tissue to create a 3D image of the breast. With a better image of the breast, we’re able to more accurately find and diagnose breast cancer, with less false positives. MD Anderson uses 3D technology at all four mammogram locations to ensure women are getting the most accurate results.
What’s MD Anderson doing to make breast imaging more comfortable and convenient?
We know that when women get a screening mammogram, they just want to know what’s going on as fast as possible. So, we’re now offering real-time results at our locations in West Houston, The Woodlands and League City. This means that if you’re willing to wait 5 to 10 minutes after your exam, our radiologists will read the image right then, and you’ll get the results before you walk out the door. If your results are normal, you won’t have to worry while waiting the usual three to four days to receive results. If your results are abnormal, we’ll be able to schedule any further diagnostic exams right away.
We offer mammograms at several locations throughout the greater Houston are to make it convenient for you to get your mammogram close to home:
Why should I go to MD Anderson for my mammogram?
Where you go for your mammogram matters. Not all radiologists are specifically trained in breast imaging or have extensive experience in breast imaging. At MD Anderson, our entire breast imaging team only does breast imaging, and all of our radiologists have completed a year-long fellowship, which means they’re specially trained to read breast cancer imaging. We have the latest and most precise imaging technology and protocols, a strong culture of safety and exceptional pathology expertise. This means our patients need fewer redundant scans and get a correct diagnosis the first time.
We know that when you come in for a mammogram, you may be nervous or anxious, and it helps to have a radiologist who truly cares and who has read tens of thousands of mammograms, so they know exactly what they’re looking at. Our compassionate team will be here for you when you’re going through the uncertainty of an abnormal result. And if you are diagnosed with breast cancer, we can seamlessly begin your treatment at the nation’s No. 1 cancer center.
Schedule an appointment at MD Anderson online or request an appointment by calling 1-844-240-7092. Use our scheduling portal to schedule a mammogram.
Where you go for your mammogram matters.
Ethan Cohen, M.D.
Physician