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Breast Health

Breast Health

Female radiologist with scans in the back ground on monitors.

Breast Health at The Queen's Medical Center

A woman is diagnosed in the U.S. with breast cancer every 3 minutes, and more than 1,100 women in Hawaii will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Making time to take care of yourself means eating right, exercise and getting annual screenings, like mammograms. Call Queen’s to schedule a Mammogram at The Queen’s Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center or Physicians Office Building 3 in Honolulu at 808-691-7171, or The Queen’s Medical Center – West Oahu in Ewa Beach at 808-691-3663.

Learn more about what we offer: 

Meet Our Breast Cancer Specialists

Explore our Find a Doctor tool to meet our doctors, view their profiles, and select the one that’s right for you.

Ultrasound

Queen’s Imaging at The Queen’s Medical Center offers ultrasounds at several convenient locations. Ultrasounds are a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize muscles, tendons, and internal organs to examine their size, structure, or pathological lesions.

The procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the body’s inside. These images are captured in real-time, showing the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs and blood flowing through blood vessels.

Obstetrical ultrasounds provide pictures of an embryo or fetus within a woman’s uterus during routine and emergency prenatal care.

Mammography

Queen’s Imaging offers mammography, a safe, low-dose x-ray of the inside of your breast, at several convenient locations across Oahu. A mammogram can help diagnose lumps or other abnormalities found during a breast exam and show changes too small to feel by touch. Queen’s also offers digital mammography in 2D and 3D (tomosynthesis), along with diagnostic breast ultrasound, stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsy.

We recommend women:

  • Have your first mammogram by age 40
  • Get an annual screening
  • Consult your doctor before age 40 if you’re at higher risk for breast cancer
  • Schedule your mammogram for the week after your period, when your breasts are less tender

You do not need a physician referral to schedule a mammogram—Call 808-691-7171 to schedule your mammogram today.

In partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Health, Queen’s participates in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) and is committed to helping underserved women access regular screenings.


Preparing for Your Procedure

  • Transportation: No special preparations are required for this test. You will be able to drive home after the procedure.
  • Food and Drink: You may eat and drink normally.
  • Medications: Please consult with your physician to hold any of your medications before taking this test.
  • Clothing: Wear a two-piece outfit since you will be asked to undress from the waist up. Do not use deodorant, talcum powder, or cream on your breasts or underarms, as these can interfere with test results.
  • Check-in Time: Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.

What to Expect During the Procedure

During the mammogram, your breasts will be gently flattened between two plastic plates, one at a time, to ensure that all breast tissue can be seen. You may feel some discomfort, but it lasts just a few moments.

The X-ray machine sends a tiny amount of radiation through your breast to create an image. Two or more views may be taken of each breast to provide a complete picture.

Your health care provider will discuss the test results with you.


Pre-Registration Required

Please call 808-691-4960 to pre-register for your appointment. The registrar will provide information on billing and insurance coverage for the procedure.


Patient Restrictions for Mammography

Let the mammography technologist know if you have any of the following conditions, as these may affect test results:

  • Any previous breast surgery
  • Breast implants
  • Large moles

Radiation Exposure from Imaging Procedures

Read our brochure to learn more about exposure to ionizing radiation from imaging tests than naturally occurring background radiation.

READ BROCHURE


Outside Resources

Find updated information about this modality from the Radiological Society of North America.

LEARN MORE

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

Stereotactic breast biopsy uses a hollow needle to take tiny samples of breast tissue from a suspicious area to be studied under a microscope and determine a diagnosis. During this procedure, an x-ray helps find the tissue to be removed. Stereotactic biopsy may prevent the need for an open (surgical) biopsy. Open biopsy is done by taking samples of tissue through an incision (cut) made in the skin.

Things to Know

Stereotactic biopsy involves compression of the breast. In this way it is like a mammogram. This can be uncomfortable.

A stereotactic biopsy removes tiny samples of the suspect tissue. A larger area of tissue may need to be removed at a later time. Stereotactic biopsy is a common, safe procedure. It does have some risks, through they are rare. These include bleeding, infection and failure to remove the right tissue.

Guided Biopsy

An ultrasound-guided biopsy is performed to remove some cells from a suspicious area in the breast, either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle, for examination under a microscope to determine a diagnosis.

This procedure is not designed to remove the entire lesion, but most of a very small lesion may be removed in the process of biopsy.