October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if your mammogram reminder has been sitting untouched for a while, this is a good nudge to change that. At Ovation OB/GYN in Frisco, breast cancer screening is a standard part of the comprehensive women’s health care our board-certified physicians provide at every stage of life.
Why Screening Matters So Much
Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women, but it is also one where early detection genuinely changes outcomes. A mammogram can often find changes in breast tissue years before they can be felt or cause any symptoms, and catching something small and early generally means simpler treatment and a better path forward. That is the entire purpose behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month: a yearly reminder to prioritize a screening that is easy to keep pushing off.
A mammogram cannot change your personal risk of developing breast cancer, but it can change what stage it is caught at, and that stage often determines everything about the treatment path that follows. That distinction is worth holding onto whenever the appointment starts to feel optional.
When to Start, and How Often
Most women are advised to begin routine mammograms around age 40, though some guidelines suggest starting closer to 50 depending on individual risk factors. After 50, many women can shift to a mammogram every one to two years rather than annually. Because guidelines vary somewhat by organization, this is exactly the kind of decision worth making together with your provider rather than following a generic timeline alone.
Shared decision-making matters here. If you have dense breast tissue or a family history of breast cancer, your provider may recommend additional imaging such as ultrasound or MRI alongside your regular mammogram, or suggest starting screening earlier than the standard recommendation.
| “Dr. [Laura Bradley, MD, FACOG] had plenty of patience with my concern regarding treatment for my breast problems.” Ovation OB/GYN Patient Testimonial |
If You Have Dense Breast Tissue
Roughly half of all women have dense breast tissue, and if that phrase has ever appeared on one of your mammogram results, you are not alone in wondering what it means. Dense tissue appears white on a mammogram, the same color as many abnormalities, which can make standard imaging slightly harder to interpret. This is exactly why your provider may recommend supplemental imaging like ultrasound or MRI if you fall into this category, so nothing important gets missed simply because of how your particular breast tissue looks on a standard scan.
Understanding Your Personal Risk
Age is the most significant risk factor for breast cancer, but it is far from the only one. A first degree relative, a mother, sister, or daughter, diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer raises your own risk and is worth mentioning at your next visit. Other factors that can shift your personal risk picture include prior radiation exposure to the chest and certain genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, that run in some families.
None of these factors mean breast cancer is inevitable for you. They simply help your provider build a screening plan that actually reflects your situation, rather than a one size fits all approach.
Screening as Part of Your Whole Health Picture
Breast cancer screening at Ovation OB/GYN typically happens alongside your annual well-woman exam, so this conversation is never happening in isolation from the rest of your care. Our physicians, Dr. Julie Vu, Dr. Laura Bradley, and Dr. Karen Edwards-Key, are all board certified and Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, bringing that level of training to every screening conversation and every question you bring to your visit.
That connection matters most if your screening ever leads to something requiring follow up. Instead of coordinating between a separate imaging center and your regular provider, the physician who already knows your full health history stays directly involved throughout.
| “I’m a current patient, but this was my first time seeing Celynne and it was a great experience. She thoroughly reviewed my chart, took time to discuss my family history with cancer, asked thoughtful questions, and provided helpful recommendations. I never felt rushed—she made sure I understood all my options and addressed my gynecology concerns. I truly felt heard and cared for, and I highly recommend her.” Ovation OB/GYN Patient Testimonial |
If Something on Your Results Needs a Closer Look
An abnormal mammogram result can understandably cause worry, but try to hold onto some perspective. Most abnormal findings are not cancer. Often it simply means additional imaging is the sensible next step to get a clearer picture. Whatever your results show, your provider will walk you through exactly what it means and what happens next, in plain language, so you are never left interpreting a report on your own.
If a biopsy is ever recommended, that is simply a way of getting a definitive answer rather than continuing to guess based on imaging alone, and the majority of biopsies come back benign. Whatever the outcome, catching something through screening means catching it earlier than it would otherwise have been found.
Let This October Be the Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good prompt, but the real goal is a habit that continues every year after this one too. If you are due for a mammogram, overdue for your annual exam, or simply have questions about your personal risk, our doctors at Ovation OB/GYN would love to help. Request an appointment or contact our Frisco office today, and let’s get this checked off your list together.