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Breast Health
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When to See a Provider
Talk to your primary care provider or gynecologist about your breast health if you notice:
- Changes in the size or shape of the breast
- Painful or itchy sore on the nipple
- Liquid coming from the nipple without squeezing
- Swelling, redness, warmth or darkening of the breast
- Lump, hard knot, or thickening in breast or underarm area
- A change in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling
- Your nipple pulls in or changes its position or shape
- New pain in one spot that does not go away
Routine Breast Exams
Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is called breast self-awareness. We recommend this in addition to breast self-exams. Because your breasts change as you go through different stages of life, it’s important to know what is normal for you.
Women at average risk for breast cancer should talk with their primary care provider or gynecologist to determine whether clinical breast exams should be included as part of their annual physical.
Do I Need a Mammogram?
When breast cancer is caught early, it’s easier to treat. That’s why Essentia Health recommends women with an average risk of developing breast cancer get a mammogram every year beginning at age 40. You and your doctor may decide that you need mammograms less often after you turn 75.
The Sage Screening Program is available for Minnesota residents who meet eligibility requirements. The program offers free mammograms at the following locations:
- Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic 1st Street Building
- Essentia Health St. Joseph’s-Baxter Clinic
- Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center (Brainerd)
- Essentia Health-St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes
- Essentia Health-Fosston*
- Essentia Health-Park Rapids Clinic*
Call 888-643-2584 to schedule a screening appointment. For locations noted with an asterisk (*) contact the radiology department directly to schedule.
The Woman’s Way program in North Dakota provides free screening mammograms for eligible residents.
The Wisconsin Well Woman Program also provides free mammograms to eligible residents.
Breast Imaging Services
Access a wide range of breast imaging services through Essentia Health. Your provider may use breast imaging to detect or diagnose breast disease. Depending on your symptoms and breast density, your provider may recommend:
- Digital mammography
- 3-D mammography
- Breast ultrasound
- Breast MRI
- Image-guided breast biopsy
- Ultrasound guided breast cyst aspiration
What's My Breast Cancer Risk?
Your risk of breast cancer depends on many factors. Work with our breast health care team to learn about your risk and develop a personalized care plan. Your plan may include breast cancer education, lifestyle changes, genetic counseling and testing, and/or custom screening recommendations.
High-Risk Breast Cancer Care
The Essentia Health High-Risk Breast Cancer Program focuses on helping patients understand their risk for developing breast cancer. After a thorough history, examination and education session, patients and the Breast Health Program provider partner together to form a personalized plan of care.
Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk
You can control some of your breast cancer risk factors. To lower your risk of developing breast cancer, make healthy lifestyle choices.
- Keep a healthy weight
- Having excess body weight after menopause increases breast cancer risk. Staying at a healthy weight throughout your life can help decrease your risk.
- Make exercise part of your routine
- Regular exercise decreases a woman’s risk of breast cancer, especially in post-menopausal women. Aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink
- Don't drink more than one alcoholic drink per day. Women who have 2-3 drinks per day have a 20% higher risk of breast cancer.
- Limit hormone use for symptoms of menopause
- Hormone therapy with estrogen and progesterone increases the risk of breast cancer. Higher risk is associated with longer use.
- Breastfeed if you can
- Breastfeeding for a year or more has been shown to decrease a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
- Don’t smoke or vape
- If you smoke, talk with your primary care provider about options for quitting. Some studies have found that long-term, heavy smokers might have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Nationally Accredited
Trust Essentia Health for high-quality, evidence-based breast care. Our breast health program in Fargo, North Dakota is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). This accreditation is granted to programs that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with breast diseases.
Current Clinical Research Studies
Talk to your doctor to see if you may be eligible to participate in a research study through the Essentia Institute of Rural Health. By participating in a clinical study, you may have access to treatments, medications and medical devices that are not widely available.
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Mammography
Detect breast cancer early with regular mammograms at Essentia Health in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
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High Risk Breast Cancer Care
Essentia Health's High-Risk Breast Cancer Program is a specialized part of the Breast Health Program focused on helping patients understand their risk for developing breast