Radiation doses during mammograms is low and does not result in an increased risk of cancer, according to research being presented by Alison Chetlen at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Chetlen, an assistant professor of radiology at Penn State College of Medicine, said the results of her research suggest that the use of a thyroid shield during mammography is not needed.

Cake, ice cream, parties and your mammogram! The issue of when to get a screening mammogram has raised many questions over the past six months. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced new guidelines in November 2009. These recommendations did not include mammograms for average risk women ages 40-49. The members of this task force are primary care physicians from across the country. Many breast specialists continue to support celebrating your 40th birthday with a mammogram.

Penn State Hershey Breast Center honors all Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine employees from Oct. 5 to 10, for Employee Mammogram Week at the East Health Campus facility at 30 Hope Drive in Hershey.

Having just celebrated Mother's Day, it's a good time for all of us to reflect on the women we love. Although you might not think of this first, did you or that special woman in your life have her mammogram in the past year? If she is at least 40 years old, it's time, according to the latest edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.