Mammogram Requirements for Boston Cosmetic Breast Surgery
American Cancer Society recommendations for Early Breast Cancer Detection
Read about Mammogram Requirements for Boston Cosmetic Breast Surgery. Information on how to get prepared for mammogram if you have breast implants.
Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year, and should continue so for as long as they are in good health.
Women at increased risk (due to family history, past breast cancer, etc.) should talk to their doctor about the benefits and limitations of starting mammograms when they are younger.
Dr. Moss’ mammogram requirements for cosmetic surgery of the breasts such as breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction
All patients who are having cosmetic breast surgery, (breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction) and are forty years of age or older, should have a current (within one year) mammogram. This is because all women forty years of age or older, should have a current mammogram to rule out breast cancer regardless of whether they want to have cosmetic breast surgery or not. Obviously, no surgeon or patient would want to proceed with a cosmetic procedure of the breast, without the standard screening tests being in order.
If a woman has a family history of breast cancer then her physician (primary care physician) may recommend that the mammogram screening start at an earlier age. If this is the case, then Dr. Moss would require a copy of this mammogram, before he would operate on her breasts. This again, is to insure that there are no problems that would preclude the patient having cosmetic breast surgery.
Dr. Moss’ requirements for consultations for cosmetic surgery of the breasts: Breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction
Because Dr. Moss spends considerable time with patients during his consultations and most of these consultations are provided at no charge, Dr. Moss does require that the proper mammography screening be current before he will see a patient in consultation. It is as follows:
• If a woman is younger than forty with no family history of breast cancer, then Dr. Moss does not require a mammogram be performed prior to consultation.
• If a patient is forty or older and has had a mammogram within the last year then Dr. Moss would require a copy of this mammogram report prior to the patient’s consultation.
• If the patient is younger than forty and has had a prior mammogram then Dr. Moss would also require a copy of this mammogram report, prior to the patient’s consultation.
• If a patient is forty or older and does not have a current mammogram (within one year), then this patient will have to have her mammogram before Dr. Moss will see her in consultation. Dr. Moss’ office staff will assist you in scheduling this test if need be.
How does a patient obtain a copy of her mammogram report for Dr. Moss
If the mammogram was performed at Tobey Hospital, Jordan Hospital, or Quincy Medical Center, Dr. Moss staff can usually retrieve the report directly with no steps required by the patient (because Dr. Moss is on staff at these hospitals).
If the mammogram was performed elsewhere, call either the facility where the mammogram was performed or the office of your primary care physician and request that a copy of your mammogram be faxed to Dr. Richard A. Moss at 508-747-6613. Obtain the name of the person you spoke to and ask them when they expect this report to be faxed to Dr. Moss. Please note that some facilities will fax this report to Dr. Moss without a request in writing from the patient. However, many facilities may require the request be in writing. Then call Dr. Moss’ staff and give them the phone number of the facility (or physician’s office) you called, the name of the person you spoke to and when it was expected that the mammogram would be faxed. Dr. Moss’ office can usually obtain the mammogram once you have called them with this information.
If a patient is age 40 or over and does not have a current mammogram, Dr. Moss’ office will assist her in obtaining one.
If a patient has previously had a mammogram at a local facility, it may be easier for her to call her primary care physician to schedule her mammogram. This is because that facility already has her previous films on file to compare to the new mammogram. However, if the patient is having difficulty scheduling her mammogram in a timely manner, Dr. Moss’ office can assist the patient by scheduling her mammogram at Tobey Hospital. Tobey Hospital can typically schedule a patient to have a mammogram within two weeks.
The following pictures demonstrate what a patient should typically experience when having her mammogram at Tobey Hospital. Tobey Hospital is located in Wareham, MA and is one of the hospitals that Dr. Moss frequently performs surgery at. Both Dr. Moss and his wife, Carla have been patients at Tobey Hospital and have found their personal experiences to be wonderful.
If a patient has had prior mammograms elsewhere, it is important that she bring the films and reports from these mammograms to her mammogram appointment at Tobey Hospital. Simply call the previous hospital mammography department or mammogram center and request that the films and reports be available for you to pickup. Give the facility at least a few days notice. You should then pick up these films and reports at the previous hospital and bring them with you to Tobey Hospital, when you go for your mammogram.
Beth Bark Mammography Technician greets a patient who has brought her mammogram films and reports. This patient has had previous mammograms elsewhere.
Beth Bark, Mammography Technician, checks to see that all the appropriate films are in the patient’s packet.
A few important reminders:
• Do not wear any lotion or deodorant to your mammogram appointment as some of these contain substances that can interfere with the reading of the mammogram
• All patients will need to remove all clothing above the waist and put on a hospital gown. Therefore pants or a skirt is more convenient than a one-piece dress.
• Try to avoid having your mammogram the week before your period when your breasts may be swollen and tender.
• Always describe any breast symptoms or problems to your mammogram technologist before the mammogram.
• Expect to spend 20 to 30 minutes having your mammogram.After your mammogram study has been completed, your films will be given to a radiologist for reading and interpretation. Dr. Moss should receive your mammogram report within a few days.This picture shows Dr. Ruggieri reading and interpreting a patient’s mammogram films. Please note that mammogram films look similar to large negatives. Dr. Moss does not need nor want the mammogram films sent to him. Rather he wants the radiologist’s written report.
Example of a letter that a patient would receive when her findings are benign.The report that is sent to the patient’s primary care physician (and Dr. Moss if he has been involved in ordering the mammogram), is much different from the one that the patient receives. This report has been designed for the medical community and is based on a system referred to as BIRADS. BIRADS stands for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. The BIRADS is a standard way of reporting mammograms that was designed by The American College of Radiologists (ACR), that gives the results a code (numbered 0 through 6). Radiology is the board certified specialty that reads and interprets mammograms. Dr. Moss needs to know the BIRADS code and radiologists interpretation of the mammogram in order to determine that a patient is appropriate for breast surgery. Most patients, who have been told that their next follow-up mammogram is in one year, will be able to have cosmetic surgery of the breasts
This is an example of the mammography report that is sent to physicians.
