The first dedicated breast health center in central Iowa, MercyOne Katzmann Breast Care offers the expertise, technology, information and support women and their families need to make informed choices about their care.
Katzmann offers a wide range of services in one convenient and supportive environment. Services include assessment, rapid diagnosis, education, counseling and treatment planning with the help of our team of health care specialists.
Located within MercyOne Comfort Health Center for Women, MercyOne Katzmann Breast Care is able to provide care to patients in a newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility designed specifically for women. Patients also have access to specially-trained women’s health specialists who are available to assist with additional health concerns.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during the course of her lifetime. Understanding your risk for developing breast cancer and knowing how to help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages are best ways to help keep you healthy.
Breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and mammograms are all important factors in early detection of breast health issues. The first step to good breast health is being educated and self-aware of your breasts on a monthly basis. Being self-aware includes visual knowledge of your breasts, as well as how they feel. Women who get their period should examine their breasts the week following the end of their menstrual flow. Women who do not have a period should pick the same week each month to examine their breasts.
Recognizing changes in the way your breasts look and feel is important to your overall breast health and may be an indication of breast cancer. Initial signs and symptoms of breast cancer include
If you experience any of these conditions, you should talk with your doctor to determine if a breast cancer screening is necessary.
Mammography continues to be the single best tool for breast cancer screening. The American Cancer Society, with support from several other medical societies, recommends screening mammograms to start at age 40, yearly or every other year, depending on personal risk for breast cancer. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms of breast cancer, doctors still recommend getting screened as it may detect cancer in its earliest stages before symptoms are present.
While 70 percent of diagnosed breast cancer patients have no known risk factors, there are still some indicators that you may be more likely to develop breast cancer. Women with close female relatives diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, may be at greater risk for developing the disease depending on other personal risk factors. These risk factors may include:
You can check your risk at www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool.
Engage, educate and empower at Breast360.org a program of The American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation
Women’s Cancer Support Group meetings are on the 4th Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the MercyOne Comfort Center for Women Education Center. Support group is for any women currently undergoing treatment for any type of cancer.