Elizabeth Wende Breast Care Home

(585) 442-2190 Patient Portal

FacebookTwitterInstagram

Category: News

Dr. Destounis attends RSNA Meeting in Chicago

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in , ,

Just after Thanksgiving every year, Dr. Stamatia Destounis of Elizabeth Wende Breast Care (EWBC) heads to The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. She has been dedicating this week to the meeting for more than 30 years. RSNA promotes excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research, and technological innovation. This international radiology meeting is a group of the greatest minds in all areas of radiology, including breast imaging. Dr. Destounis will present on various breast imaging topics throughout the week.

On Monday, 11/28, Dr. Destounis will be representing the USA in “Challenging Breast Cases: A Game Show USA Versus Europe,” which is an image interpretation quiz focused on breast imaging cases in a competitive format. A group of junior and senior breast imaging experts, as well as the respective presidents from the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI), will ‘clash’ in a friendly contention. Based on clinical information and images, intermediate and expert breast cases will be discussed and solved.

Later Monday afternoon, she will moderate a session on breast abstracts related to the topics of breast density and supplemental screening. Tuesday 11/29 Dr. Destounis is leading two ultrasound biopsy workshops in which attendees learn the ins and outs of performing a breast needle biopsy under ultrasound guidance. Wednesday, 11/30, Dr. Destounis will be presenting BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) updates they have been working on for over a year.

Lastly, on Thursday, 12/1, Dr. Destounis will present her abstract on the performance of digital breast tomosynthesis in women with dense breast tissue. A busy week for Dr. Destounis!

How to Pick a Breast Center

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in ,

  • You’ve probably heard you should get an annual mammogram starting at age 40. However, most women don’t know where to start when it comes to selecting a breast care center. Here is a checklist when choosing a breast center.
  • DEDICATED TO BREAST IMAGING
    A breast imaging center with a team of experienced breast imaging specialists
  • LATEST TECHNOLOGY WITH LESS RADIATION
    3D mammography with synthetic 2D for every patient —
    reducing overall radiation dose
  • DOUBLE READING OF YOUR SCREENING MAMMOGRAM
    Two expert opinions to give you peace of mind
  • INTEGRATED GENETICS PROGRAM
    Cancer Risk Assessment for every patient to determine
    the lifetime risk of breast cancer
  • STAFF THAT GOES THE EXTRA MILE
    Professional & supportive staff to guide you through your visit

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Don’t Ignore Your Own Health

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in ,

Dr. Lisa Paulis reminds women not to ignore their own health while busy taking care of others. Preventative cancer screenings are important. Early detection is key.

Dr. Paulis talks with Channel 13 WHAM Rochester:

“I would say that women are natural caregivers, and they tend to take care of everybody around them and prioritize their own health last, and we would not recommend that,” said Dr. Lisa Paulis, a radiologist at Elizabeth Wende. “Having mammograms and taking care of yourself is really taking care of your family. Talking to your doctor about the appropriate time to screen, based on your risk, is a conversation everyone should be having with their primary care physician.”

Watch the WHAM news story

 

 

 

Are you dense? Do you need an ultrasound? 

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in ,

Are you dense? About 50% of women over 40 have dense breasts and are at higher risk for breast cancer. Ultrasound improves detection for women with dense breasts.

Katie Couric recently shared her story of early detection and revealed she had an ultrasound with her mammogram because of her dense breasts. Since her story came out, our phones at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care have been ringing with lots of questions regarding breast density.

Keep in mind

  • Breast density is determined by your mammogram and will be indicated on your mammogram report. Know your breast density
  • Density can change over time as it may be different from year to year
  • Ultrasound is beneficial for women with dense breasts because dense breast tissue is more difficult to see on a mammogram alone

Examples showing breast density types on a mammogram, Dense breast tissue may hide small cancers

Each time you have a mammogram, your radiologist reviews your breast density for two reasons

  • Dense breasts have a higher chance of developing breast cancer
  • It is more difficult to find breast cancers in dense breasts compared with fatty breasts. The dense breast tissue shows up white on a mammogram and may hide cancer and other abnormalities, making the mammogram more difficult to read

For these reasons, most states, including New York, require that radiologists include your breast density with your mammography results

If you want to know your breast density, please refer to your most recent mammogram report. Your reports are available on the patient portal, EWBC APP, or give us a call at 585-442-2190

 

Watch our videos on breast density

Mammogram Minute: Are You Dense? Who Needs an Ultrasound? (Dr. Stamatia Destounis explains)

What is breast density?

 

Do I Need An MRI?

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in , ,

Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI is a highly sensitive, noninvasive diagnostic tool often used in conjunction with mammography and ultrasound. It helps physicians evaluate the extent of breast cancer, as well as establish a treatment plan and monitor a patient’s response to chemotherapy. This advanced technology is also a valuable screening tool for patients considered to be at high risk for breast cancer, whether due to strong family history, genetic risk, personal history, or other risk factors.

MRI is an advanced, state-of-the-art medical imaging method. Breast MRI uses a powerful but harmless magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the breast and its internal structures. No radiation is used for MRI imaging.

New Breast Cancer Guidelines for Patients from NCCN

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in , ,

New evidence-based breast cancer guidelines for patients from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) state that women should undergo a breast cancer risk assessment starting at the age of 25 years.

The NCCN guidelines, Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, were published “to help people understand their personal risk for breast cancer when they should begin screening, and how often to screen — to detect cancer earlier, for more treatment options and better outcomes,” states NCCN “Regular screening and breast exams help find breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages.”

  • Having a mammogram at infrequent or irregular intervals limits its effectiveness
  • Key is to know your risk
  • For women at increased risk, the NCCN Guidelines recommend starting screening earlier and more frequently- may include breast MRI in addition to mammography

READ NCCN Guidelines

Should I be Worried About Radiation and Mammography? 

Posted on by Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in ,

How much radiation am I exposed to during a mammogram?

It is equivalent to the amount of radiation you get from flying from New York to California.

Should I have a mammogram every other year to limit my radiation exposure?

Radiation is not cumulative, meaning it won’t build up over time and cause harm. The amount of radiation you are exposed to during a mammogram is well within safe ranges. The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend annual mammograms.