Dr. Janie Grumley, Director of the Margie Petersen Breast Center, reminds women of the importance of screening mammograms versus diagnostic mammograms
A Gentle Beginning: Why Breast Health Awareness Matters
When it comes to caring for yourself, understanding your body is key. One of the most empowering things a woman can do is learn the difference between screening and diagnostic breast exams. Knowing when to take action—and what kind of action to take—can lead to early detection, easier treatments, and less stress.
What Is a Screening Mammogram?
Screening mammograms are a form of self-care, done even when everything feels perfectly fine. These are routine, annual checkups ordered by your primary care provider and often covered by insurance (though many plans ask you to wait a full year between appointments).
They’re quick and simple, using X-rays to look for anything unusual in breast tissue. If you’re not feeling any pain, lumps, or changes, this is your exam—it’s there to catch problems before symptoms ever appear.
“Once we know that this is something, it’s very easy for the Margie Peterson Breast Center to then plug you into their multidisciplinary clinic.”
– Janie Grumley, MD
When You Need More Than a Screening: Diagnostic Mammograms
A screening mammogram isn’t enough in these moments. When symptoms arise, you need a diagnostic approach—a careful evaluation by a provider who can guide you to the right testing. The staff at imaging centers will always ask: “Do you have any breast concerns?” If your answer is yes, it’s time to change direction and focus on finding answers.
Waiting for your next routine scan isn’t the solution. Acting quickly brings clarity—and comfort—sooner.
The Margie Petersen Breast Center Fast Tracks Diagnostic Screenings for Women at Risk
Dr. Grumley inside Saint John’s Cancer Institute, July 2025, Santa Monica, California.
The Margie Peterson Breast Center (MPBC): A Place That Listens
To make this process easier and more personal, the Margie Peterson Breast Center created a welcoming space called the Breast Health Clinic. Here, you don’t need a referral or a doctor’s order to be seen.
Just reach out, tell us what you’re experiencing, and our caring team will listen and help. Most patients are scheduled within 24 hours, and your visit will often include imaging that same day. It’s designed to remove the red tape, shorten the waiting, and replace uncertainty with understanding.
This clinic is a place of comfort, speed, and trust—built to care for you when answers matter most.
Calming the Mind While Caring for the Body
Here’s something reassuring: most breast cancers grow slowly. There’s rarely a rush from a purely medical standpoint. But the emotional urgency—the anxiety and fear—can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we respond quickly. In many cases, imaging and biopsies happen within a day, and results arrive in just 24 to 48 hours. If a diagnosis is confirmed, we guide you gently into our multidisciplinary clinic. Typically, patients are seen within a week, so you’re never left wondering what to do next.
Knowledge is calming. Knowing your options brings confidence. And we’re here for every step.
Long-Term Care with Heart
Our commitment doesn’t end after treatment. We follow up with patients long after recovery—months, even years down the road. It’s all part of creating a safe, supportive relationship.
Our amazing administrative staff works tirelessly to make things run smoothly. When urgent cases arise, even long-term patients will gladly shift their appointments, because they remember what it feels like to need care quickly. That shared understanding forms a beautiful bond across our patient community.
Supporting Those at Higher Risk
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation, or a known predisposition, the Breast Health Clinic offers steady guidance and watchful care.
MPBC tracks everything—exams, mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs—to ensure nothing gets missed. For high-risk patients, early detection isn’t just helpful—it’s vital. We’re here to keep that vigilance consistent, compassionate, and personalized.
Whether you’re here for reassurance, answers, or ongoing support, the Margie Peterson Breast Health Clinic is ready to walk with you. Gently, respectfully, and quickly—because your peace of mind matters just as much as your physical health.
Providence, Saint John’s Health Center Comprehensive Breast Program
Please call 310-582-7100 if you need immediate attention and looking for answers. We are here to guide you.
Dr. Janie Grumley works closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, other surgical oncologists of different specialties, to name a few.
Whatever your needs may be, we are here to ease your way for a better health and future.