DEXA Scans Turn Knowledge Into Action [Julie Hendricks]

In this video, Brookings resident Julie Hendricks shares how a DEXA bone density scan became an important part of her healthcare journey following breast cancer treatment. She explains what the scan is like, why ongoing bone density monitoring matters and how having accurate information helped her and her physician make informed decisions about her long-term bone health.

Key Takeaways

  • A DEXA scan measures bone density: A DEXA scan helps identify low bone density, including osteopenia and osteoporosis, so patients and providers can make informed treatment and prevention decisions.
  • Early detection supports better health decisions: Knowing your bone density allows you and your healthcare provider to develop a plan that may include exercise, nutrition, supplements or other treatments to help protect bone health.
  • The exam is simple and comfortable: During a DEXA scan, patients lie comfortably while trained radiology staff provide instructions and guide them through the process.
  • Ongoing monitoring provides valuable comparisons: Having repeat DEXA scans on the same machine can improve consistency when comparing bone density measurements over time.
  • Preventive screenings provide knowledge that leads to action: Screening can identify conditions before symptoms develop, giving patients more opportunities to manage their health proactively.

Frequently Asked Questions

A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is a medical imaging test that measures bone mineral density. It is commonly used to detect osteopenia and osteoporosis and to monitor changes in bone health over time.

Many women receive their first routine DEXA scan around age 65, although some people may need screening earlier because of risk factors such as certain cancers, medications, fractures or other medical conditions. Your healthcare provider can determine the appropriate timing based on your individual health history.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones lose density and become weaker over time, increasing the risk of fractures. Because it often develops without noticeable symptoms, bone density testing is an important way to identify the condition before complications occur.

A DEXA scan is a quick, noninvasive imaging exam. Patients lie on a padded table while a scanning device measures bone density, and radiology staff provide instructions throughout the procedure to help ensure accurate results.

Repeat DEXA scans allow healthcare providers to monitor changes in bone density over time and evaluate whether lifestyle changes or treatments are helping maintain bone health. Consistent testing can support more informed healthcare decisions.

Video Transcript

My name is Julie Hendricks, and I'm from Brookings, South Dakota. I've been a 50-year-plus resident of Brookings. I am married, and we have three daughters who are all SDSU graduates, along with my husband and I.

What led to your first DEXA scan?

About 10 years ago, during an annual mammogram, a cancerous tumor was found. It was grade 1, stage 1 ductal cell carcinoma, and I was treated with surgery and radiation, which came out very successfully.

Why did your doctor recommend ongoing bone density scans?

So, I had the first DEXA scan right after my cancer diagnosis as the final treatment for the medication to determine the right medication for me to take at that point. And so the bone density came back with an osteopenia result, and that set a baseline for future DEXA scans that I would have. Because once that was determined that I had osteopenia, my demographic for cancer, breast cancer, carried a higher risk of osteoporosis. And so that was a given that I would have additional scans to monitor my bone health going forward.

How would you describe a DEXA scan?

It's very relaxing because you're lying on a bed. You have your feet up on a pillow, and you are being given great recommendations and instructions from the radiology staff as to what you need to do or how you need to move. And then they walk you through step by step what they're doing while the machine is doing the scan. So it was not a stressful thing at all, and I've had five DEXA scans at Brookings Health, and they've all been very positive.

How did the staff make you feel comfortable?

So I categorized easy in two areas, and one was making the schedule happen was great. I was referred by my doctor, and the scheduling I wanted was able to be met because I wanted to have the scan done before my next annual exam, so that we could talk about it during my visit with her. And so it was easy that way, and it was easy to find the location and travel to the appointment because it was right here in Brookings, which is that convenience is just wonderful. And the staff was so welcoming and professional. They met me at the door, escorted me to the area where the DEXA scan would be done. And I never felt nervous or uncertain about what was going to happen, and they explained everything very well and made me at ease, which probably makes the scan better too.

What is osteoporosis?

It is a reduction of your bone density over time, and it is a silent disease in that you don't see it and you don't feel it. So, it's very important to have some way to identify if you have it. So I was age 58 when I had the DEXA scan for the first time. Protocol is that most women get their first DEXA scan at age 65. So, I got a jumpstart on knowing what my bone health situation was and actively started doing exercise and diet and supplements that would help support that condition, and hopefully maintain my healthy lifestyle.

What would you say to someone hesitant about getting a bone density scan?

Once you have knowledge, it's powerful because whether it's your bone health or other areas of your health, you now have information that can help you and your doctor move forward to help improve that health condition.

What did you appreciate most about your care?

The radiology department and the other departments at Brookings Health have always put me at ease, and I've always had great confidence in the work they do to make me feel like I'm wanted as a patient and they also want what's best for me. Having my five scans all here at the Brookings Health System has had an added benefit, and that is that when you are getting readings from these DEXA scans, you want to be able to do that on the same machine each time. And the reason for that is consistency and accuracy of those bone scores. So that is also a really huge benefit and advantage for me to have that access here.

Why are preventative screenings important?

And so I felt it was a blessing in disguise that I had the breast cancer because that led me to a DEXA scan, which basically sent me on a new health journey that I've been on for the last 10 years. Without that information, the doctor and the patient cannot be aware that there may even be a condition going on. And if you catch it early, like with my cancer diagnosis, it was caught in a very early stage, it gives you time to work with your doctor to find a way to either cure it or help maintain it. And the outcome should be for a healthy lifestyle as long as you can.

Are you one of the Brookings Health System's grateful patients who would like to give back to us? Learn more about how you can give back to us at brookingshealth.org/MyThanks.

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