Breast Health

Breast health begins with receiving regular mammograms. Our mammography program is MQSA-ACR certified. Our registered mammography technologists provide digital mammography on weekdays and weekends by appointment. Two types of mammograms are offered - screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms.

Our breast health patient navigator will connect with you personally and guide you through your mammogram and diagnosis. Each patient is different and we personalize your needs to fit your diagnosis and treatment plan. The navigator also serves as your advocate connecting you with the appropriate resources and support. 

To schedule a Mammogram, call us at 920-623-6466.

Are You At Risk?

Risk factors for breast cancer are not exclusively related to family history. Many variables can increase one’s risk for breast cancer, such as:

• Age. The risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
• Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.  According to the CDC, about 1 in every 500 women in the United States has a mutation in either her BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
• Early menstrual period. Women who start their periods before age 12 are exposed to hormones longer, raising the risk for breast cancer by a small amount.
• Late or no pregnancy. Having the first pregnancy after age 30 and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.
• Starting menopause after age 55. Like starting one’s period early, being exposed to estrogen hormones for a longer time later in life also raises the risk of breast cancer.
• Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
• Being overweight or obese after menopause. Older women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than those at a normal weight.
• Having dense breasts. Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumors on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
• Using combination hormone therapy. Taking hormones to replace missing estrogen and progesterone in menopause for more than five years raises the risk for breast cancer. The hormones that have been shown to increase risk are estrogen and progestin when taken together.
• Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Certain forms of oral contraceptive pills have been found to raise breast cancer risk.
• Personal history of breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time.
• Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases. Some non-cancerous breast diseases such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
• Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman’s risk.
• Previous treatment using radiation therapy. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts (like for treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.
• Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was given to some pregnant women in the United States between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage, have a higher risk. Women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them are also at risk.
• Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

Learn more about Mammograms

Call us at 920-623-6466 to schedule a mammogram.

Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Several screening tests can be used to find polyps or colorectal cancer. It is important to know that if your test result is positive or abnormal on some screening tests (stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and CT colonography), a colonoscopy test is needed to complete the screening process. Talk to your doctor about which test is right for you.

When to Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer

• If you are aged 45 to 75 years old, you should get screened for colorectal cancer. If you are older than 75 ask your doctor if you should be screened.
• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening beginning at age 45.
• The vast majority of new cases of colorectal cancer (about 90%) occur in people who are 50 or older.
• If you think you may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer, learn your family health history and ask your doctor if you should begin screening before age 45.

Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

• Age. Your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older
• Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
• familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) external icon or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)

Lifestyle factors that May Contribute to an Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer

• Lack of regular physical activity
• A diet low in fruit and vegetables
• A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats
• Overweight and obesity
• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use

Learn more about lowering your risk

To schedule an appointment or discuss your risk factors, contact us at (920) 623-1200 option 2.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, causing more deaths than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. 

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, risk factors for Lung Cancer include:

• Tobacco Smoke. Current smokers who have smoked at least one pack per day for 20 years or more, or are former smokers who have smoked at least one pack per day for 20 years or more but quit fewer than 15 years ago
• Secondhand Smoke. If you don’t smoke, breathing in the smoke of others can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. 
• Exposure to Certain Chemicals. If you have been exposed to the following chemicals, you may be at a greater risk:
  • • Radon
    • Asbestos
    • Radioactive ores such as Uranium
    • Inhalants such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers
    • Diesel exhaust
    • Arsenic in your drinking water
• Previous Radiation Therapy to the Lungs. People who have had radiation therapy to the chest for other cancers are at higher risk for lung cancer, particularly if they smoke. 
• Air Pollution. In cities, air pollution (especially near heavily trafficked roads) appears to raise the risk of lung cancer slightly.
• Personal or Family History of Lung Cancer. If you have had lung cancer, you have a higher risk of developing another lung cancer. Immediate family members (siblings and children) of people who have had lung cancer may have a slightly higher risk of lung cancer themselves, especially if the relative was diagnosed at a younger age.

Lung Cancer Sreenings

Based on the National Lung Screening Trial­ findings, lung cancer screenings are recommended for people:

• Between the ages of 50 and 80 years
• Have no history of lung cancer
• Are not on oxygen
• Have never undergone lung surgery
• Have never experienced an unexplained weight loss of more than 15 pounds
• Have not had a chest CT scan within the past 12 months

If you meet any of the qualifications above, screenings are covered by Medicare and most private insurances with no cost-sharing.

Screening means testing for a disease when there are no symptoms. Low-dose CT screening of the chest looks for lung nodules which may be early lung cancer. This offers the best chance of­ finding lung cancer in its earliest and most curable stages. During the screening, you will lie on a table that passes through the center of the scanner. The screening CT can be performed with a single short breath-hold and takes less than 15 seconds. The procedure is painless. The benefit of finding and treating early lung cancer far outweighs the risk.

The amount of radiation exposure from CT lung cancer screening is about the same as a person would receive from background radiation (such as sun exposure) over a period of one year. A radiologist will interpret your screening chest CT and either recommends a one-year follow-up or further testing. Results are sent to your physician. You will receive a follow-up call from the lung patient navigator and a letter with your results.

To schedule an appointment or discuss your risk factors, contact us at (920) 623-1200 option 2.