The Food and Drug Administration has released an online resource to help consumers find FDA-certified mammography facilities by location, the agency announced Oct. 29.
The FDA hopes that women will continue to keep screening and prevention in mind well beyond Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they said. Mammograms are the best way to screen for cancer early, because they can help detect lumps that may be too small for a patient or physician to find during a self-breast exam.
National Institutes of Health/Department of Health and Human Services
This is a mammogram of a normal, healthy breast.
The FDA conducts annual inspections of mammography facilities to ensure they meet standards for equipment and staff training under the Mammography Quality Standards Act. Facilities must be FDA-certified to legally perform mammogram services in the United States.
The agency has also recently approved new 3-D imaging technology that creates cross-sectional images to help doctors evaluate dense tissue and that may even find hidden tumors, they said. The FDA warns that other tools such as thermograms and nipple aspirate tests are not substitutes for mammograms.
The FDA has more information about breast cancer screening at its website, as well as a list of certified mammography facility near you.