Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How Breast Imaging Supports Early Detection and Care

Every October, pink ribbons remind us to think about breast cancer. It’s a huge topic. Where should you start? The most meaningful thing you can do for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is simple: Check when you had your last mammogram.

About 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Regular breast imaging allows us to find cancer earlier, often before you can feel a lump or notice another change.

At Invision Sally Jobe, we provide comprehensive breast imaging across the Denver metro area and Colorado Springs, focusing on making screening, additional imaging, and follow-up as comfortable and seamless as possible.

Mammography is where early detection begins

For women at average risk, we recommend annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40.

A mammogram uses low-dose X-rays to create detailed images of breast tissue. Screening mammography can reveal abnormalities before they become large enough to feel, giving you and your healthcare team valuable information earlier.

At Invision Sally Jobe, we use 3D mammography as our standard for screening. Rather than relying on a limited number of flat images, 3D mammography captures multiple images that allow the radiologist to examine breast tissue in thin sections.

Your previous mammograms matter, too. Comparing current images with earlier ones helps the radiologist identify changes over time and distinguish new findings from stable features.

Sometimes mammography is only the first step

Most screening mammograms don’t lead to a breast cancer diagnosis. But sometimes an image shows an area that needs a closer look.

If that happens, your doctor may recommend additional imaging. You don’t need to figure this out yourself. The appropriate next exam depends on the finding and your individual circumstances.

Diagnostic mammography provides additional or targeted views of a particular area. Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to help radiologists evaluate breast tissue and can provide more information about something seen on a mammogram or felt during a breast exam.

For some women, supplemental screening with breast ultrasound or MRI may also be recommended based on factors such as breast density, personal or family history, and overall breast cancer risk.

Your mammogram can also provide insight into future risk

Breast imaging isn’t only about looking for cancer that may be present today. It can also help determine how closely you should be screened in the future.

Every Invision Sally Jobe breast imaging patient receives a personalized breast cancer risk assessment that considers factors such as age, personal and family history, and breast density. That information helps determine whether annual mammography alone is appropriate or whether you might need supplemental screening.

Eligible patients can also add on Clairity AI, the first FDA-authorized AI platform that uses images from an existing screening mammogram to predict a woman’s five-year risk of developing breast cancer.

Clairity AI analyzes subtle patterns within those images that aren’t visible to the human eye. This may help identify women at increased risk who could be missed by traditional risk assessment methods, including women under 50 without a family history of breast cancer.

Your Clairity AI score doesn’t tell us whether you have breast cancer. Instead, it estimates your risk of developing breast cancer within the next five years. If your score is elevated, the radiologist may recommend additional screening, such as breast MRI.

Together, traditional risk assessment and newer tools such as Clairity AI can help identify women who may benefit from closer screening in the years ahead.

Imaging also supports what happens after screening

Early detection is only one part of breast imaging.

If screening reveals an abnormality, diagnostic imaging helps characterize the finding and provides information your healthcare team can use to determine appropriate next steps. Imaging may also help guide a breast biopsy when tissue sampling is necessary.

That continuity is key. Screening, diagnostic evaluation, and follow-up are connected parts of breast care, each helping answer the next clinical question.

Make October your reminder

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good time to talk about breast cancer. It’s an even better time to make sure you’re keeping up with screening. If you’re 40 or older and due for your annual mammogram, schedule your screening with Invision Sally Jobe. 

You can self-schedule a screening mammogram online or call our Patient Access Team at 720-493-3700. With breast imaging locations across the Denver metro area and in Colorado Springs, Colorado, getting your mammogram on the calendar is one step you can take for your health today.