The key to curing breast cancer is early detection through screening and diagnostics. One of the easiest things women in the Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, and Glendale areas can do to preserve their health is to take advantage of the range of breast cancer screening methods available at our Beverly Hills center. Our state-of-the-art facility offers screening tests, including digital mammography and ultrasound.
Since 1990, breast cancer mortality has decreased by 34% due to early detection through comprehensive breast screening and improved breast cancer treatments. Effective screening methods are available to diagnose a suspicious mass, whether detected by a mammogram, a breast self-exam, or during a clinical breast exam performed by a qualified doctor or nurse.
To learn more about breast cancer screening, visit cdc.gov.
Your Breast Cancer Screening Options
Annual breast screening at an accredited breast care facility and monthly breast self-exams are vital to ensure any cancer is detected in its earliest stage. If a lump or other abnormality is detected, your doctor will most likely recommend further testing.
Clinical Breast Exam
During your annual physical, your physician will examine your breasts to check for lumps, unusual texture, nipple discharge, or rashes. During the exam, you will be asked to raise your arms or place your hands on your waist so your doctor can check for any puckering or unusual movement of breast tissue. During a clinical exam, you should report any breast pain, tenderness, or anything unusual you have noticed concerning your breasts or armpit areas.
Most lumps and masses are not malignant but require testing—such as a mammogram, ultrasound, or biopsy—to rule out cancer.
A screening mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast that shows changes in the tissue, new lumps, or tiny clusters of calcium that can be the first signs of cancer.
The Koning Vera breast CT scan offers 3D imaging with unparalleled detail, detecting even the smallest lesions. This cutting-edge technology ensures a comfortable, no-compression experience, making it ideal for dense, small, or large breasts, patients with breast implants, and those with tender breast tissue.
A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to determine whether a lump is filled with fluid (a cyst) or if it is solid. An ultrasound does not replace the need for a mammogram but is often used to check abnormal results from a mammogram.
Our oncologists commonly perform lymph node biopsies as part of diagnosis and treatment. It is one of the ways an oncologist accurately determines to which stage the cancer has progressed.
BRCA genetic testing finds mutations in the tumor-suppressing BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Specific inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of female breast and ovarian cancers, and they have been associated with an increased risk of several additional types of cancer.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations account for about 20 to 25% of hereditary breast cancers and about 5 to 10% of all breast cancers.
Adult women should make a habit of completing a monthly breast self-examination to detect any lumps or changes in skin texture or overall appearance. About 40% of breast cancers are detected this way.
Regular breast self-exams will also familiarize you with the appearance and feel of your breasts, which will help alert you to any changes so that you can discuss them promptly with your doctor.
Unparalleled Expertise With a Compassionate Touch
Dr. Richardson and Dr. Memsic are two of the top breast surgeons in Los Angeles, using innovative techniques to create excellent clinical and aesthetic outcomes.
Our world-class facility serves patients from Los Angeles from throughout Los Angeles, Southern California, and across the country. To learn more about breast cancer screening, call us at
(310) 278-8590 or contact us using the online form to schedule an appointment.
