Your Breast Surgeon Wants to Prevent a Visit to her Cedar Park Surgeons Office Dr. Nicole Basa is a highly trained breast surgeon in Cedar Park.
In fact, she is the first breast surgeon in Austin to become certified in breast ultrasound by the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Having access to expert, thorough care can make a life-saving difference. Dr. Basa pursues higher-level training to ensure that her patients receive exemplary care when faced with a breast cancer diagnosis.
She is also a vocal advocate for raising breast cancer awareness for the benefits of breast cancer screening. Early detection saves lives. With changes in recommended screening ages, women continue to ask Dr. Basa about the timing of breast cancer screening. When is the right time to schedule a mammogram or clinical breast exam?
Breast cancer screening in your 20s, 30s and 40s
Dr. Basa says: “Awareness of breast cancer and yearly clinical breast exams with a primary care physician are foundational to an effective breast cancer screening regimen. It’s helpful to know that every situation is unique, but generally speaking, we can recommend adding mammograms in a woman’s 30s and 40s.”
- In her 20s, a woman should focus on breast awareness, which includes being aware of any abnormal lumps or masses, or changes in the skin or nipples.
- In her 30s, a woman should start annual mammography when she has a family history of breast cancer, carries the BRCA gene or has other factors that put her at higher risk for breast cancer. (see below)
- In her 40s, women with average risk should start an annual pattern of mammography.
Risk factors that hasten the need for annual breast cancer screening
Dr. Basa added that women who are high risk for breast cancer may need an annual MRI and mammogram. She reiterated the red flag factors that physicians consider to be significant as women plan for breast cancer screening.
- Women with the BRCA mutation
- Women having a first degree relative who is a BRCA carrier
- Women with a lifetime risk of 20-25% or greater
- Women who had radiation to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30
- Women with Li Fraumeni, Cowden Syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcalba Syndrome or having a first degree relative with one of these conditions
Dr. Basa, a USC and UCLA trained general surgeon, performs mastectomy and lumpectomy breast surgery, and is able to offer in-office ultrasound-guided cyst removal and biopsy so that patients do not have to schedule a follow-up appointment at a radiology clinic.
Contact us at Cedar Park Surgeons if you have a diagnosis that concerns you or prefer a breast surgeon who is also certified in breast ultrasound
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