October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder that women should schedule regular screenings.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women of all races and backgrounds in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it can be dangerous to delay exams.
Katie Couric recently said she underwent treatment for breast cancer. The disease was discovered by tests performed several months later than usual.
Dr. George Elso and Olga Casanas – partners in both health care and marriage – own Universal Imaging & Radiology, at 14462 Commerce Way in Miami Lakes.
They each have nearly four decades of experience in radiology and say they want their patients to make health a priority with regular tests and self-exams.
They sometimes see women “who come in and have not had [abnormalities] for 80 years and then they come in because they feel something,” said Olga Casanas, administrator at the facility in Business Park West.
Elso is chief operating officer of the practice they took over in 2009. It has grown to serve patients – men and women -- from all around South Florida. They said they work to stay at the forefront of the technologies in their field.
The practice provides mammograms, bone density screenings and breast ultrasound exams as well as MRIs, X-rays and electrocardiograms.
Universal Imaging & Radiology has annual breast cancer awareness events when they donate mammograms to women in need.
Casanas said that even if a patient misses his or her annual exam in the month it’s usually performed, they shouldn’t delay getting screened as soon as possible.
“The annual mammogram is very, very important, because a lot of women don’t perform [self] breast exams or they have very dense breasts,” Casanas said.
Elso said a patient’s primary care physician, gynecologist or Universal Imaging & Radiology’s staff can show women how to check their breasts for abnormalities.
“If you have dense breasts, it’s very important to have a bilateral breast ultrasound [when both breasts are scanned with a wand] and it’s important, they should ask their doctor [for a referral through insurance],” Casanas said.
Patients must advocate for themselves and ask for the ultrasound, especially if they have dense breast tissue, she said.
“Mammograms do not need a referral from a physician, [women] can do a self-referral,” Elso said.
Elso said self-referrals are accepted for all breast screenings and ultrasounds.
Universal Imaging & Radiology offers a variety of ways to pay. In October, the center began offering discounted mammograms, breast ultrasounds and bone density screenings, a reduced-price schedule that will be in effect through Dec. 31.
“We’ve been sponsoring certain discount plans for the last 14 years here at Universal,” Elso said.
Mammographys cost $50; a combined mammography screening and bilateral breast ultrasound is $100 and a bone density study costs $30.
“We accept everyone here,” Elso said. “Our concern is the patient.”
The couple said women should get a mammogram as early as age 35, to understand their bodies. But insurance may restrict at what age it will begin refunding those tests.
For more information go to www.UIRadiology.com.