Breast health
From regular checkups and screenings to the latest imaging technologies and treatments, you can access all our expert breast care services at our convenient locations.
Breast imaging in Highlands, North Carolina
Our fellowship-trained specialists are committed to helping you achieve better breast health.
At Highlands-Cashier Hospital, our breast health specialists are here to help you maintain the highest standards of health. Your well-being is our priority, so we emphasize preventive and nonsurgical procedures whenever possible, including 3D mammography.
Schedule your mammogram online
We believe getting quality healthcare should be simple, so we offer online scheduling for some of our women's imaging services.
We believe getting quality healthcare should be simple, so we offer online scheduling for some of our women's imaging services.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Our breast care program
Effective, comprehensive care combines the latest imaging technology with educational resources and round-the-clock support.
Breast health services
Breast cancer won't wait, which is why our dedicated breast imagers recommend starting annual screenings when you turn 40. We provide many screening options so you can detect cancer earlier and begin treatment sooner.
3D mammography
We offer 3D mammography, or tomosynthesis, which helps us find more cancers, earlier. With traditional mammography, the image is flat, but during a 3D mammogram, multiple images are obtained in seconds.
This new tool allows our specialists to detect cancers that otherwise would be hidden by overlapping breast tissue. Regardless of breast density, we recommend 3D mammography for any woman needing a mammogram.
Bone density scan
Individuals who have been treated for breast cancer may be at an increased risk for bone loss. A bone densitometry scan, or dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, is an X-ray that measures bone loss and helps determine if you are at risk of bone fractures from cancer-related osteoporosis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI is a test used to detect breast cancer, and may also be performed as a screening tool in conjunction with mammography. The board-certified radiologists in our breast health program might also conduct an MRI to reveal the extent to which cancer has spread after a diagnosis.
Ultrasound
Breast ultrasounds use sound waves and their echoes to produce computer images of the inside of the breast. It can show breast changes, such as lumps, and can be helpful for women with dense breast tissue. Approximately 40 percent of women have dense breasts, which makes it difficult to see abnormal areas during a mammogram.
Self-examinations
Self-examinations are an important part of maintaining your breast health. We recommend completing a self-exam one week after menstruation, as breast changes are common during the menstrual cycle.
The self-exam should only take a few minutes, and involves doing a visual examination, a manual inspection and a manual inspection while lying down. Look for any visual changes in your breasts, and then use the pads of your fingers to follow a circular pattern and check for knots, lumps or other changes.
Breast cancer screening at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
One of our fellowship-trained breast imagers discusses the importance of starting annual breast cancer screenings at the age of 40.