Screening tests can find cancer early, when chances for survival are highest. However, there are other things you can do to be proactive in caring for your breasts.

Know your risk

• Talk to both sides of your family to learn about your family health history
• Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer

Know what is normal for you

See your health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:

• Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

In addition to self exams and clinical breast exams performed by a physician, women should have a screening mammogram yearly starting at age 40 (or earlier as decided by you and your physician). At GHS, mammograms, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance images are read by radiologists dedicated to breast imaging at the Breast Imaging Center on GHS’ Patewood Medical Campus.

Screening mammography is an x-ray picture of the breast. These tests are used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. Mammograms can also be used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of the disease has been found. These tests are diagnostic mammograms.

3D Breast Imaging

Three-dimensional (3D) mammography, also known as breast tomosynthesis, is a type of digital mammography in which x-ray machines are used to take pictures of thin slices of the breast from different angles and computer software is used to reconstruct an image. This option is available to women who have dense breast tissue and helps reduce the number of call-backs and false positive tests.

Mammography Locations
GHS Outpatient Radiology
(a department of Greenville Memorial Hospital)
1210 W. Faris Road • Greenville

Greer Medical Campus
830 S. Buncombe Road • Greer

North Greenville Medical Campus
807 N. Main St. (Hwy. 276) • Travelers Rest

Simpsonville Medical Campus
727 S.E. Main St. • Simpsonville

Patewood Medical Campus
200 Patewood Drive, Building A • Greenville

Laurens County Medical Campus
22725 U.S. Hwy. 76 E. • Laurens
For an appointment at this location, please call (864) 833-9398.

Oconee Medical Campus
298 Memorial Drive, Seneca, SC 29672
For an appointment at this location, please call (864) 885-7340.

For many, the first thing that comes to mind when hearing “breast health” is cancer. But many complaints, such as breast pain and nipple discharge, are not necessarily related to cancer.

Greenville Health System offers patients a unique approach to cancer treatment through its Breast Multidisciplinary Center (MDC) at the GHS Cancer Institute. The MDC allows a patient to accomplish in one morning visit what previously may have taken weeks. Learn more about our multidisciplinary approach to cancer care.

This program is offered through the American Cancer Society and DHEC and provides the following at no cost to you.

• Help and guidance from nurses
• Clinical breast exam by a breast surgeon
• Screening for cervical cancer
• Testing as recommended by surgeon that may include mammogram, ultrasound as well as further work-up
• Follow-up appointments as needed
• Referrals to other physicians

The Best Chance Network provides breast and cervical cancer screenings to women in South Carolina who are between the ages of 30 and 64 and are medically underserved. Click here for more information and guidelines. To sign up for a free screening, call (864) 455-2476.