Community lives here
MyChart

Got MyChart? Make your appointment today.

Book Now

Breast cancer survivor stories: Jennifer

Jennifer Ryen, director of development at Asante Foundation, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 37 after she discovered a lump and immediately got it checked out. She caught it early enough that the cancer hadn’t traveled to her lymph nodes. “My journey and my potential outcomes could’ve been really different if I had waited,” she says. “I would really encourage women to prioritize your health. And to be really proactive, because nothing is more important than you being around for your family and those you love.”

Breast cancer survivor stories: Judith

Judith Lidgus of Brookings is fighting her second bout of cancer, which was caught early — thanks to regular checkups. “I would say to people, ‘Don’t be afraid, please go and get your mammogram because then you can cross it off your list. What’s 20 minutes out of your life once a year to know?’ My cancer was detected, it was treated, and I’m on the way to recovery. I intend to live at least another 20 years.”

Breast cancer survivor stories: Jo

Jo Saleska, a medical coding supervisor with Asante and a Spears Cancer Center champion, discovered she had breast cancer in 2010 after a self-exam in the shower and a normal mammogram only eight months before. “When I was first diagnosed, I did not feel sick,” she says. “You don’t feel sick until it’s too late… I know that I’ll never be able to convince somebody that they must have a mammogram, but for their own safety and their own health, I would highly recommend one.”

Why you need a mammogram

A mammogram is an exceptional tool that uses low-dose radiation to X-ray the breast. It is key to identifying breast cancer in its earliest stages, when it may be too small to feel as a lump during a breast self-examination or by your health care provider. A screening mammogram is routinely used to look for early tissue changes in women without breast symptoms. The results allow a radiologist to detect calcifications, cysts and fibroadenomas (solid lumps of normal breast cells). Women 40 and older may have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.

For some patients, a diagnostic mammogram may be appropriate. It is most often used for patients with current areas of breast concerns:

•   Lump(s) in the breast or underarm.
•   Thickening or dimpling of the breast.
•   Discharge from the nipple.
•   Recent changes in breast tissue or skin.

Mammography is considered the “gold standard” in breast cancer detection because of its distinctive ability to identify two to three times as many early breast cancers as a physical exam. Some cancers, however, may not be detected until they can be felt as lumps. That is why breast self-exams and routine exams by your health care provider are essential steps in monitoring your breast health.

Asante Imaging
Medford

(541) 789-4322

Asante Ashland Community Hospital
Women’s Imaging

(541) 201-4380

Asante Women’s Imaging
Grants Pass

(541) 955-5446

Why you need a mammogram

A mammogram is an exceptional tool that uses low-dose radiation to X-ray the breast. It is key to identifying breast cancer in its earliest stages, when it may be too small to feel as a lump during a breast self-examination or by your healthcare provider. A screening mammogram is routinely used to look for early tissue changes in women without breast symptoms. The results allow a radiologist to detect calcifications, cysts and fibroadenomas (solid lumps of normal breast cells). Women 40 and older may have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.

For some patients, a diagnostic mammogram may be appropriate. It is most often used for patients with current areas of breast concerns:

•   Lump(s) in the breast or underarm.
•   Thickening or dimpling of the breast.
•   Discharge from the nipple.
•   Recent changes in breast tissue or skin.

Mammography is considered the “gold standard” in breast cancer detection because of its distinctive ability to identify two to three times as many early breast cancers as a physical exam. Some cancers, however, may not be detected until they can be felt as lumps. That is why breast self-exams and routine exams by your health care provider are essential steps in monitoring your breast health.

Preparing for a mammogram

  1. Bring any past records or films from previous mammograms.
  2. For your comfort, wear a two-piece outfit — a top and a skirt or pants — because you will need to undress above the waist.
  3. Schedule your exam for approximately one week after your menstrual cycle, when you have the least amount of breast tenderness.
  4. Please inform the scheduler and the technologist if you have breast implants.
  5. If dietary factors such as caffeine tend to cause breast tenderness, limit your intake before the exam.

Learn more about mammograms and Asante

Screening and Diagnosis
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use this site, you agree with it.