When you come in for your mammogram, breast ultrasound or any other breast imaging test—you’ll meet a team focused on your health and comfort. Our breast imaging physicians are all fellowship or equivalent trained and are highly specialized in Breast procedures.

Our Erminia Rivera Breast Imaging Center of Excellence is one of the few imaging centers in the New York area that uses tomosynthesis (3-D technology). Compared to standard digital mammography, this increases accuracy, finding more cancers and calling back less patients for extra screenings.

We offer mammograms to all, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Comprehensive breast cancer screening options

We use the latest technology, including:

• Tomosynthesis (3D mammograms)
• 3 T Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Breast ultrasound
• Minimally invasive breast biopsy for all modalities, including MRI
• Prone table Tomographic guided breast biopsy
• Lymph node biopsy to check for cancer spread

Who should have a mammogram?

Annual screening mammography starting at age 40 saves the most lives.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend annual mammographic screening beginning at age 40 for women of average risk.

Higher risk women should start their screenings earlier and may benefit from supplemental screening modalities.

Early detection means more treatment options and better outcomes.

Any age with a high risk of breast cancer

You may have a high risk of breast cancer if:

• You have a genetics-based increased risk. You or a family member has tested positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, or another genetic mutation linked to cancer risk
• You have a history of chest or mantle radiation at a young age (before 30)
• You have a personal or family history of breast cancer with a lifetime risk of 20% or higher

If you’re at high risk, you may need to have supplemental screenings with contrast–enhanced breast MRI. Breast MRI is also recommended for women with personal histories of breast cancer and dense tissue, or those diagnosed by age 50. Others with breast cancer history or previous high risk biopsies (such as atypia) should consider additional surveillance with MRI, especially if other risk factors are present. Ultrasound can be considered for those who qualify for but cannot undergo MRI.

All women, especially black women and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, should be evaluated for breast cancer risk no later than age 30, so that those at higher risk can be identified and can benefit from supplemental screening.

Factors that contribute to the ACR/SBI reclassification of risk include that:

• African-American women are 42% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women, despite roughly equal incidence rates
• African American women have a two-fold higher risk of aggressive “triple negative” breast tumors
• African American women are less likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, but are twice as likely to die of early breast cancers
• African-American women have a higher risk of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations than those of Western European ancestry. These carriers are at much higher risk for breast cancer.

If you think you may have a high breast cancer risk but aren’t sure, ask a primary care doctor or call us at (718) 765-2550.

Older than 75 with average risk

Continue regular annual screening mammography as long as you are in good health.

Free mammograms if you’re uninsured or underinsured

We partner with the New York State Cancer Services Program to provide free mammograms and other breast screenings to uninsured and underinsured women.

Every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, we provide screening for women who are:

• 40 and older
• Younger than 40 and at high risk for breast cancer

Covid-19 vaccines and mammograms

You may have heard that you shouldn’t have a routine screening mammogram too soon after your Covid-19 vaccine. It doesn’t affect the breast itself, however in a small number of women, the vaccine causes swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm on the same side as the vaccine. This is a normal immune reaction to a vaccine. These lymph nodes usually return to normal in a few weeks. This can sometimes show up on a mammogram.

If you have an appointment for a vaccine, we encourage you to keep it—regardless of timing. Getting vaccinated is critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Consider rescheduling your screening mammogram if possible before your vaccine.

We recommend scheduling your annual screening mammogram:

• Before your first vaccine dose
• At least 4 to 6 weeks after your second vaccine dose

Important: This recommendation only applies to screening mammograms. If you’re having a mammogram because of a lump or a follow up to an abnormal breast Imaging finding, schedule it as soon as possible

However, if you are already overdue for your exam or cannot reschedule within the next few months, keep your screening mammogram appointment and your vaccination appointment. Both are very important to ensure you stay healthy. It’s especially important to keep your mammogram appointment if you are significantly overdue for screening. During your mammogram, we’ll follow rigorous safety procedures to protect you from Covid-19.

Remember: Annual screenings save the most lives.