Breast Health Screening

Clinical breast exams should start at age 20 at the doctor’s office as part of a wellness exam. Yearly mammograms should start at age 40 for women with average risk factors. Mammograms are covered by insurance. Women who are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible for free mammograms. For more information, call St. Luke’s at 314-205-6267. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is most treatable. 

If you are at higher risk for breast cancer, your provider may recommend you start regular mammograms earlier.

We offer 3D mammography (tomosynthesis), which allows us to take images of many layers of breast tissue for better image detail. This is particularly helpful if you have dense breast tissue or other factors that put you at higher risk.

At your annual mammogram, we will also discuss your personal and family health history to determine if you are at higher risk for developing breast cancer. Knowing your risk can help you be proactive with your breast health. You can also ask your provider for a risk assessment at any time.

If you are at higher risk for breast cancer, your team at our High-Risk Clinic [link to: https://www.stlukes-stl.com/services/womens/breast-care/high-risk-clinic, page ID 12.34.6.7] can  help you create a personalized  health plan to give you every advantage in preventing and fighting breast cancer.

If your doctor finds an irregularity on your mammogram, you may need further diagnostic testing. Many women have lumps in their breasts that are not cancer. Our radiologists can perform most diagnostic testing without surgery. These diagnostic tests are not meant to replace a mammogram.

Diagnostic tests include:

• Breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): Your doctor may recommend a breast MRI for you if you’re at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
• Whole-breast ultrasound: We use ultrasound to detect cancer not seen on a mammogram, especially with dense breasts or breast implants.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: Doctors typically use CT scans to see if cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
• Image-guided biopsy: During this minimally invasive procedure your radiologist will use imaging to help guide a biopsy needle into the breast to collect a tissue sample to see if it is cancerous or not.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: This test lets us identify areas of cancer that MRI or CT may not find.