Breast Cancer Screenings
To schedule your mammogram:
Important notices:
- UPMC Health Plan members with employee-sponsored insurance plans: Getting preventive screenings may help you earn toward your wellness incentive! Check your plan benefits today to check eligibility.
- UPMC for You members may qualify for transportation assistance for preventive screenings. For more details, visit the Medical Assistance Transportation Program website.
Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in one or both breasts. Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer in women, but has an over 90 percent survival rate when detected early.
Breast cancer screenings are important for all women because they can help find breast cancer early. And they can have a big impact, since one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The best news: Getting the screening takes only around 20 minutes!
Breast Cancer FAQ
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More than 250,000 women in the U.S. will find out they have breast cancer this year. Around 43,000 women will die, but as mentioned, there is an over 90 percent survival rate when detected early.
Many women with breast cancer have no symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to know how your breasts normally look and feel. A breast self-exam can reveal changes. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in your breast, but other symptoms include:
- A change in the way the breast looks.
- A change in the nipple (turned in or scaly).
- Swelling in the breast.
- Skin irritation and dimpling.
- Fluid that comes out of the nipple.
Yes. Although it mostly occurs in women, men can get it, too.
Options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy. You and your doctor will decide which treatments are best for you.
Screening FAQ
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women ages 50 to 74 get a breast cancer screening every two years.
The most common screenings are mammograms, clinical breast exams, and breast self-exams.
- A mammogram is an x-ray used to detect and assess changes in the breast.
- In a clinical breast exam, a medical professional uses his or her hands to feel for lumps or other changes in the breast.
- A breast self-exam is when you check your own breasts for lumps or changes in size and shape.
Around 20 minutes.
You can schedule your screening at any of the following places:
- Radiology and imaging center
- Mammography clinic
- Hospital radiology department
- Some doctors’ offices
You do not need a referral to schedule a breast cancer screening.
All preventive screenings cost nothing for UPMC Health Plan and UPMC for You members.
How to prepare for a screening
- Before the mammogram, the provider will ask you to change into a gown. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wear a shirt or top you can remove easily.
- Avoid using deodorants, perfumes, powders, or lotions on your breasts and underarm areas on the day of the exam. The ingredients in these products can show up on a mammogram and make it harder to read.
- During the exam, each breast is placed between two plates, and an x-ray image is made. Normally, two views of each breast are taken: one with the x-ray beam aimed from top to bottom, and the other from side to side. The entire process takes about 20 minutes.
- Sometimes the pressure you feel can be uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a few seconds. If you have concerns about this, check with your primary care provider before your screening for ways to help ease your anxiety or discomfort.
- Be sure to tell the person who is administering the screening if you have concerns or feel discomfort during the exam.