Be your breast advocate: Health confidence starts with patient education
It’s widely known that preparation is key. Children are encouraged to practice their skills to excel in extracurricular activities or to study to make good grades. Adults are lauded for putting in the work to nail a board presentation or secure a new client. When we prepare, we not only build our competency, but we also build confidence.
The same logic applies to making informed decisions to protect our well-being. Numerous studies illustrate a connection between health confidence and positive patient outcomes. Individuals report feeling better—and even saving on treatment costs—when they have the knowledge and support needed to navigate their care journeys.
That’s why The Breast Center at CARTI is dedicated to equipping women with easy-to-understand, accessible resources to take control of their breast health. We advocate for early detection, encouraging all women of average risk to begin annual mammograms at age 40—a practice that’s crucial to catching breast cancer sooner and saving women’s lives from the disease. To further empower patients, we plan intentional initiatives, such as our Mammograms and Muffins events every October, to make it as easy and convenient as possible for women to receive yearly screenings.
At The Breast Center at CARTI, we also counsel patients who may be at higher risk of breast cancer to talk to their health care providers about undergoing a risk assessment or considering genetic counseling. For women with known genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, we refer them to CARTI’s High-Risk Management Clinic and offer comprehensive support services at The Bridge, such as our monthly Previvor Meet-Up.
Just as we wouldn’t play in a high-stakes soccer match or go into a job interview without preparing first, we should not expect women to feel at ease when making choices that impact their long-term health if we don’t offer accessible patient education. As research shows, health confidence breeds more informed decisions—and a better patient experience. If you have questions about your breast health or would like to schedule a mammogram, visit CARTI.com or call 501-537-MAMO.
Jessica McElreath, M.D., is a fellowship-trained breast imaging specialist at The Breast Center at CARTI, who sees patients in North Little Rock and Russellville.
