Welcome to Breastnet in Scottsdale, Arizona

Did you know that the American Cancer Society recommends you have a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE), or also called a Physical Breast Exam, with your primary care physician annually? Many of our patients are unaware that this is the standard of care for women age 40 and over, so I would like to take this opportunity to explain why and how we can help.

As we know, mammograms are considered the gold standard for catching breast cancer early because the technology can detect tumors too small to be felt even by an experienced physician. When a tumor is detected at an early stage, there are more treatment options available and higher cure rates than when it is detected at a more advanced stage.

However, mammograms as important as they are, are not 100% foolproof, which is why a CBE by a physician is strongly recommended. Combining this exam with a mammogram and monthly Breast Self-Exams, further reduces the risk of missing a breast cancer.

According to Robert Smith, PhD, Director of Screening for the American Cancer Society, not all doctors receive training on how to conduct a clinical breast exam, and some studies have found that many doctors are not confident they can perform the exam correctly. "Since many physicians don't feel they have adequate skills to do a proper CBE, some feel more comfortable simply relying on mammography," Smith said.

This is why I am very pleased to announce that Diane Bourget, Clinical Coordinator at Breastnet, has just completed the requirements to become a Certified MammaCare Clinical Breast Examiner. MammaCare is the recognized standard for teaching and performing Clinical Breast Examination in breast cancer screening clinics. Women and clinicians properly trained in MammaCare have found breast cancers as small as 3mm in diameter.

We are now offering Clinical Breast Exams as a service to our patients at Breastnet for a very nominal fee. In scheduling this exam, Diane will not only do a thorough CBE, but will also instruct you on how to correctly perform a Breast-Self Exam.

When you call for your next mammogram, please let our Scheduling Coordinator know if you have not had a CBE in the last 6 months and we will be sure to schedule that exam for you when you come in. It is our goal at Breastnet to provide you with all the tools necessary for you to take charge of your own health and to be informed.

Best regards,

Belinda Barclay-White, MD