Women's Health

The Breast Care Center

The Breast Care Center at Corning Hospital - The Breast Care Care Center at Corning Hospital is staffed by female Registered Nurses and Radiology Technologists who care about your comfort and privacy.

Mammography services include mammography with R2 computer assisted detection, ultrasound, breast MRI, ductogram, needle localization, needle biopsy, ultrasound core biopsy, and cyst aspiration. A clinical breast self examination instruction is given upon request by a Mammocare certified specialist. 

Mammography results are available before you leave the Center and a Radiologist is present to answer your questions. If needed, a certified breast health navigator is available to assist patients with abnormal mammograms by providing educational and emotional support. Call Corning Hospital's Central Scheduling Department at 607-937-8674 to schedule your mammogram appointment.

An Important Message from the staff of Mammography Services at Corning Hospital and Healthworks. Recently, the American Cancer Society changed its mammography guidelines. Women age 40 and over should get annual mammograms. It's a small but important change. Talk to your doctor about beginning a program of regular mammography. Regular mammography can save your life, or the life of someone you love. Call the Breast Care Center at Corning Hospital for more information. American Cancer Society Early Detection Guidelines Age 20 - 39 Clinical breast exam by a doctor or nurse every three years Monthly breast self exam Age 40+ Annual mammography Annual clinical breast exam by a doctor or nurse Monthly breast self exam

The Wellness Council of the Southern Tier - Corning Hospital provides low or no cost health exams, including pap smears, mammograms and clinical breast exams, for qualified women in the Southern Tier. A woman qualifies for this program if she is 40 or older, asymptomatic, and meets income and insurance guidelines. Call 1-877-778-6857 to enroll in the program

The Osteoporosis Center

What is osteoporosis? - Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin and break easily. The most common breaks are in the hip, spine or wrist. Osteoporosis is called a "silent disease" because many people do not even know that they have thin bones until a bone breaks.

Who is at risk for osteoporosis? - Osteoporosis can happen to anyone - the disease has no age, gender or ethnic boundaries. Osteoporosis more commonly affects the elderly, postmenopausal women, and individuals of Caucasian or Asian decent. This does not mean that others are not at risk for osteoporosis. Men, African-Americans and other populations get osteoporosis, too; they are just at a slightly lower risk than Caucasian or Asian postmenopausal women.

What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?

• light skinned
• thin or small framed
• approaching or past menopause
• milk intolerant or have a low calcium intake
• a cigarette smoker or drink alcohol in excess
• taking thyroid medication or steroid-based drugs for asthma, arthritis or cancer
• a family history of osteoporosis
• chronic intestinal disorders
• a sedentary lifestyle

What can I do to prevent osteoporosis?

It is never too late to protect yourself from this disease, but the time to start is now. A plan to prevent osteoporosis includes ALL of the following:

• a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• weight-bearing exercise
• a healthy lifestyle with no smoking and limited alcohol
• bone densitometry testing

What is Bone Densitometry? - Bone Densitometry is a scan that measures the mineral content and density of bone. Densitometry is used for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis. The measurements are made by transmitting a very small amount of radiation through a section of bone. This radiation is measured by a computer, which then produces comparison charts.

Bone Densitometry testing is now available at Healthworks Wellness and Fitness Center. During your appointment, a technologist will discuss your Risk Appraisal and Dietary Intake Log. She will provide educational information on dietary calcium, calcium supplements, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, exercise, life-style modification program and home safety and fall prevention. Before you leave, you will be given a brief summary of your scan results. The complete report will be sent to your physician for recommendation and therapy options.

Call Corning Hospital's Central Scheduling Department at 607-937-8674 to schedule your bone density appointment.

Health Education Programs - Corning Hospital provides monthly community health education/screening programs. Noontime and evening programs are offered on a variety of health/wellness topics. Most programs are free and all are open to the general public.