St. Luke’s is positioning itself to offer the best breast cancer screening options in Idaho.

On September 10, the Food & Drug Administration finalized an update to the Mammography Quality Standards Act requiring all patients who have mammograms to be notified of their breast tissue density. Later this year, St. Luke’s will offer Idahoans the most comprehensive and up-to-date tools to detect breast cancer, which help lessen false alarms and extra tests while improving outcomes and patient peace of mind.

U.S. women over 40 are encouraged to get a mammogram every year. Yet nearly half of women ages 40-74 have dense breast tissue, which can make cancer hard to detect on mammograms.

St. Luke’s will be the only health system in Idaho to offer three additional imaging options for patients with dense breast tissue:

Abbreviated breast MRI, the most sensitive, and fast, screening tool for dense tissue

Automated whole breast ultrasound, a simpler and lower-cost option to MRI

Contrast enhanced mammography, which captures unusual blood flow that can indicate the presence of tumors

St. Luke’s radiologists help patients choose the best imaging option based on their mammogram, medical history, comfort level and preference, helping ensure generations of Idaho women continue to lead their healthiest lives.

Support of St. Luke's Breast Care services will ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality care to every patient who needs it. Philanthropy enables us to purchase essential equipment, like the automated whole breast ultrasound, and provide screenings to our uninsured and underinsured patients.