Breast cancer now strikes one in eight women during their lifetime. In the United States this year alone, breast cancer will affect 225,000 women causing 45,000 deaths, 225 of which are here in New Mexico.

Many factors affect survival including size, histology grade, and lymph node involvement. Of these, the most important is size. If we can diagnose breast cancer early, when the tumor is less than 10 mm, survival rates are greater than 90%.

We have the tool for early detection at the Breast Imaging Center. It is high quality mammography, dedicated, highly trained technologists and caring, knowledgeable specialty physicians.

Getting your first screening mammogram by the age of 40 and yearly thereafter, along with breast self-examinations and clinical exams is the best formula for early detection.