Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Yet despite medical advancements, some women still delay or avoid screening due to fear, discomfort, or uncertainty. With early detection being key to survival, the question isn’t whether screening matters; it’s how we make it more accessible, accurate, and comfortable. We asked Dr. Tchaiko Parris, MD, PhD, Director of Mammography and Breast Cancer Prevention at imageOne, to share why annual mammograms remain essential and how she supports patients through every step of the process.
Start at 40: What the Experts Now Recommend
“There’s no longer a gray area,” Dr. Parris explains. “For women at average risk, the major medical organizations now agree, screening mammography should begin at age 40 and continue annually.”
This includes consensus from the American College of Radiology (ACR,) American Cancer Society (ACS), U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
Starting at 40 significantly reduces the chance of dying from breast cancer, with studies showing an up to 40% reduction in mortality and earlier, more treatable diagnoses.
Meeting Fear with Facts and Compassion
Despite the guidelines, many women still hesitate to schedule their first mammogram. Common concerns include pain during compression, anxiety about results, or fear of being called back for more imaging.
Dr. Parris addresses these fears by creating a welcoming, judgment-free environment. “We have private discussions with anyone who expresses hesitation. We don’t pressure, we empower. We provide data, talk about what to expect, and help them feel in control.”
One standout feature offered at some facilities is real-time screening mammography, where patients often receive their results within minutes. “The immediate feedback really helps reduce anxiety. Patients leave with answers, not questions.”
Comfort & Confidence: Enhancing the Mammogram Experience
Tools play a key role in improving both patient experience and diagnostic accuracy. Beekley Medical offers three supportive tools that stand out when it comes to enhancing the overall screening mammogram experience, both in patient comfort and image clarity:
Elequil Aromatabs® Aromatherapy: Calming the Experience
Before the exam even begins, patients can be offered Elequil Aromatabs®, a simple nursing intervention to promote relaxation during pain and to calm anxiousness.
With aromas like lavender, lavender-peppermint and lavender-sandalwood to help comfort and calm anxiousness, Elequil helps create a calming environment before and during the mammogram, reducing patient anxiety and enhancing the overall experience.
TomoSPOT® Skin Markers for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Precision You Can Trust
Accuracy in mammography also depends on correctly identifying what’s on the skin versus inside the breast. TomoSPOT® skin markers are placed over nipples, moles, scars, and both non-palpable areas of concern and palpable lumps to clearly mark their location, helping radiologists interpret images with confidence and reducing false positives.
By clearly identifying known skin features, TomoSPOT skin markers can also ease a patient's fear of unnecessary callbacks, helping them feel more confident and informed throughout their screening experience.
Bella Blankets® Protective Coverlets: Comfort That Matters
Bella Blankets® protective coverlets provide a protective barrier between the skin and the receptor plate- helping to prevent skin from sticking and, for those with sensitive skin, potentially tearing after the breast is released from compression. Their gentle grip also helps technologists position patients closer to the chest wall, helping them achieve better positioning and capture more breast tissue on the image. Bella Blankets can increase patient satisfaction and reduce repeat imaging, ultimately improving both the experience and the exam.
The Takeaway: Annual Screening Saves Lives
The tools and technology are better. The guidelines are clearer. The care is more compassionate. But the message remains the same: screening saves lives.
“Our goal is not just to detect cancer early,” Dr. Parris says, “but to make the entire screening process easier, faster, and more comfortable for every woman.”
If you’re a clinician providing mammography services, consider how tools like Elequil Aromatabs®, TomoSPOT®, and Bella Blankets® can help support your patients. Creating a calm, transparent, and comfortable experience helps encourage compliance and trust and ultimately improves outcomes in breast cancer screening. To request a trial evaluation of any of these products in your facility, contact your Medical Imaging Account Manager or email info@beekley.com.
Megan Sargalski
Marketing Communications Specialist
