While you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, eating a healthy diet may be the least of your concerns. As your estrogen levels decrease, your metabolism may slow down, causing unexpected weight gain. Prioritizing a healthy diet can help with your symptoms and keep your mind and body on the right track. A decrease in estrogen can also weaken your bones. Monitor your dairy intake and consider upping your milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption to aid in bone health. These foods are high in Vitamin D and K, essential for strong bones. As your metabolism begins to slow down, look for foods that will keep you full for a long period. Fruits and vegetables are great options for a quick snack while helping you maintain a healthy weight. As with every stage of your life, it is important to stay hydrated. Water can aid in your processing of food and decrease bloat. Discuss any changes in your diet with your doctor, especially as you enter menopause. Keeping a healthy and safe diet is important throughout your life, and should always be top of mind.

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Women’s Health and Menopause Center encourages our patients to schedule a 3-D mammography appointment. A preventative 3-D mammogram is one of the best tools we currently have to screen for changes. A baseline mammogram is recommended around the age of 35 if you have no family history. If you do have a family history of breast cancer, your baseline mammogram will be completed at a younger age. We need a baseline mammogram to provide a comparison view, so that we can see what’s normal for you and detect changes as you age. At age 40, we recommend all women to receive a yearly 3-D mammogram.

As a reminder, if you notice any changes in your breasts no matter your age, contact us and make an appointment. Don’t let this go until your next annual exam. We can take a look and order additional testing as needed.

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A reminder to all of our patients to not put off your mammogram. 3D mammograms are an important tool to see changes in your breasts and to potentially catch breast cancer earlier which can improve outcomes from this disease. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer found in American women with a 1 in 8 chance of developing the disease. Contact us to request an appointment.

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Regular screenings are an essential part of protecting yourself from cancer. As we learn more about how this condition behaves, we can come up with better ways to increase the likeliness of early detection. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issued updated mammography guidelines that made some significant changes from those released back in 2002. What do you need to know about the new recommendations?

Women in Their 40s May or Not Need Screenings Yet

Women ages 40 to 49 used to be advised to get regular mammograms. New guidelines suggest that this may be optional for some healthy women in this age group. The Task Force found that there is limited benefit when doing screenings for women in their 40s because results are much harder to read in younger women. This can cause patients to have to return for a repeat visit or biopsy only to find out it was a false positive. Additional tests and procedures usually must be performed to verify the condition. These can come with additional risks to the patient. That’s why some medical professionals back the new guidelines that suggest women should wait until they are 50 to get regular exams. This is not always the case. Speak with your gynaecologist to see what is right for you.

If You Have a Family History of Breast Cancer, You Need Screenings

The guidelines mentioned above are based on a patient who is healthy with no family history. If you have a first or second-degree relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer, then the recommendations will differ for you.

A first-degree relative would be an immediate family member like a mother, sister, or daughter. A second-degree relative would include family members that are one step beyond that, like an aunt or grandmother.

Talk to Your Doctor About Your Breast Cancer Risk

Different factors will affect your breast cancer risk and help determine when you should begin regular screenings. Talk to your Women’s Health OB/GYN to discuss factors that apply to you. Contact our offices today to schedule your appointment.

Women’s Health offers state-of-the-art 3D Mammography screening right at our office for your convenience.

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Women’s Health has state-of-the-art 3D mammography equipment right at our West Bloomfield facility for both patient convenience and to provide the best view of the breast so that changes can be noticed sooner than with other mammography equipment. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.

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There is no way to ensure that you will never develop breast cancer. Some risk factors, like family history, cannot be changed. However, you can manage risk and give yourself the best chance at remaining cancer-free through the following health and lifestyle choices.

• Avoid Smoking – Smoking can have many negative side effects. One of those is an increased risk of breast cancer. Don’t smoke or stop smoking and you will begin to shift the odds in your favor.
• Drink in Moderation – It’s ok to enjoy a drink every now and again. Excessive drinking can increase your cancer risk. One drink a day or less is recommended with an emphasis on less.
• Manage Weight – Being overweight can increase your chances of developing breast cancer. Make sure you stay at a healthy weight or start working toward getting there if you are currently overweight.
• Stay Active – Being active plays a big role in managing weight and maintaining good health. The average adult should do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise weekly.
• Breastfeed – Several studies have shown a link between breastfeeding and cancer risk. According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology Alison Stuebe, “There seems to be growing evidence that breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of the really aggressive kinds of breast cancer.”
• Limit Hormone Therapy – Women who undergo combination hormone therapy for longer than three to five years tend to have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Regular mammography’s, self-breast exams, knowing the risk factors, and annual appointments with your gynecologist is a good first step toward protecting yourself.

Schedule an appointment and your mammography with your Women’s Health gynecologist today.

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Women’s Health is continually looking for ways to make our patients experiences more pleasurable; such as adding the addition of our Relax Spa; as well as providing more ways to be able to improve the ease of receiving women’s healthcare. We all live hectic lives, please don’t put your health on hold. Women’s Health and Menopause Center is now offering mammograms for your convenience. Appointments are being offered beginning November 2018. Contact our office to make your appointment.

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Breast cancer is a concern that lingers on the minds of most women at some point in their lives. The good news is that many patients survive and go on to lead full, long lives. The key is catching cancer as early as possible to increase your chances of a positive outcome. Today, women have multiple options when it comes to breast cancer detection.

• Mammograms

Mammograms are the most well-known breast cancer detection method used today. This approach involves taking an X-ray of the breast to look for changes that are not visible on the outside. While mammograms can be very effective, they do not find approximately one in five breast cancers.

• 3-D Mammograms

3D mammograms deliver a three dimensional X-ray image of the breast, so doctors can view multiple angles and are more likely to notice changes sooner, increasing the potential of catching breast cancer earlier which improves the probability of a better outcome. 3D mammograms advanced technology is also better equipped to look into dense tissue with increased accuracy and better views.

• Ultrasound

A breast ultrasound may be used to identify changes that can be felt but are not visible using a mammogram. It may also be used to look closer at a change that was identified using mammography. This method utilizes sound waves to produce an image of the inside of each breast.

• MRI Scan

A breast MRI is generally used for women who have a breast cancer diagnosis. This type of imaging will measure the cancer and look for other tumors. Women who have a high risk of cancer may be advised to have an MRI scan done as an early detection measure.

• Experimental Imaging

Experimental imaging techniques are being studied to look for improved ways to detect breast cancer. This includes methods like molecular imaging, optical imaging, positron emission mammography (PEM), and electrical impedance imaging (EIT).

If you are due for a mammogram or want to learn more about other screening options, contact Women’s Health and Menopause Center today. Our experienced, board certified OB/GYN’s will help you find the best method for you to increase your chances of early detection.

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Women’s Health and Menopause Center is excited to offer our patients the convenience of state-of-the-art 3D mammograms right at our facility. Certified radiologists will be on staff to provide quick and accurate results.

3D mammograms deliver a three dimensional X-ray image of the breast, so doctors can view multiple angles and are more likely to notice changes sooner, increasing the potential of catching breast cancer earlier which improves the probability of a better outcome. 3D mammograms advanced technology is also better equipped to look into dense tissue with increased accuracy and better views.

Women’s Health and Menopause Center is looking forward to presenting this cutting edge technology to our patients. Stay tuned for our opening date.

#WomensHealthandMenopauseCenter #WHMC #3DMammography #BreastCancerDetection

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Some causes of cancer are genetic, which means that they are inherited through genes. Breast cancer can be hereditary, however, most cases are NOT. There may be lifestyle changes that you can make right now that will reduce your risk of developing the disease later in life.

• Avoid Smoking

Smoking increases your risk of breast cancer. The effects are even stronger in premenopausal women. Your best bet is to not start smoking. If you already smoke, now is the time to quit.

• Enjoy Alcohol in Moderation

There is nothing wrong with drinking a glass of wine or beer every now and again. Excessive intake can increase your risk of health conditions like cancer. A good approach is to limit yourself to one drink or less per day.

• Maintain Healthy Weight

Healthy weight is a great way to avoid many medical conditions, including cancer. The heavier you are, the higher your chances of developing this and other diseases. This is even more important for older women, including those who are postmenopausal.

• Breastfeed Your Baby

According to Lyda Hill Cancer Prevention Center’s health education specialist Rachel King, “Research shows mothers who breastfeed lower their risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer.” She recommends breastfeeding for longer than the suggested six months for maximum benefit.

• Limit Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy can be helpful for a number of conditions, but it can also raise your risk of cancer. Limit the duration and dose of this treatment option. Patients who underwent hormone therapy for over three to five years had an increased risk of breast cancer.

Schedule an appointment with your Women’s Health and Menopause Center OB/GYN who can provide more information and suggestions for preventing breast cancer.

#WomensHealthandMenopauseCenter #OBGYN #Obstetrician #Gynecologist #Mammography #3DMammography #Mammograms #BreastCancerScreening

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