Center of Excellence for Breast Cancer at Mount Sinai Highlights Key Updates and Trends for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024
As we mark the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024, the Center of Excellence for Breast Cancer at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai is proud to share essential updates in breast cancer screening and technology that have the potential to significantly improve early detection and patient care. This year, our focus includes the latest mammogram guidelines, a recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling on breast density, and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool in mammography.
New Mammogram Guidelines: In April, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that women begin regular mammograms at age 40, shifting from the previous guideline of age 50. We wholeheartedly support this important change, as it can lead to earlier detection and a reduction in late-stage breast cancer cases.
“Starting mammograms at age 40 can facilitate earlier diagnoses, which are crucial for effective treatment,” says Elisa Port, MD, FACS, Chief of Breast Surgery for the Mount Sinai Health System and Director of the Dubin Breast Center. “We urge women to schedule their screenings and benefit from these updated guidelines.”
FDA Ruling on Breast Density: The FDA recently mandated that mammogram reports include uniform information about breast density. Dense breast tissue can obscure tumors on mammograms and is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
“This new requirement will provide women around the country with essential information about their breast density, helping them make informed decisions about additional imaging if needed,” notes Laurie Margolies, MD, Chief of Breast Imaging at the Dubin Breast Center. “We are committed to offering comprehensive care and using all available information to enhance screening accuracy at all of Mount Sinai’s breast health locations.”
Advances in AI for Mammography and Breast Ultrasound: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming mammography and breast ultrasound, significantly improving diagnostic capabilities. AI algorithms can analyze mammogram and breast ultrasound images with advanced precision, and have become a powerful tool in identifying potential abnormalities that traditional methods might overlook.
“AI technology is a tool that could represent a significant advancement in breast cancer detection,” states Dr. Margolies. “Thanks to our innovative work at the Dubin Breast Center and throughout the Mount Sinai Health System, we are leading the way in implementing AI-enhanced mammography and breast ultrasound to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.”
Breast Cancer Statistics
Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers among women, with 13 percent, or approximately one in eight, women receiving a diagnosis in their lifetime. Early detection and advanced technology are vital to improving survival rates and treatment success.
Three Things Women Should Do
- Schedule your mammogram: Follow the new guideline to begin regular screenings at age 40
- Review breast density information: Understand your breast density from your mammogram report and discuss any additional screening needs with your health care provider
- Know your risk: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in U.S. women, behind only lung cancer.
The Center of Excellence for Breast Cancer at The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month because it is an important time to embrace these advances and focus on proactive care. Remember, improving your chances of survival often begins with early detection. Mount Sinai Health System encourages women to be empowered, to speak with their health care professional, to stay informed, and, if needed, to have access to the latest technologies and interventions.
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About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across eight hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
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