One in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime during their life, according to the American Cancer Society. And despite advances in care, the disease remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

Beginning later this month and early next month, women can receive comprehensive breast imaging at four MountainStar Healthcare hospitals: Ogden Regional Medical Center, Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem and St. Mark’s Hospital in Millcreek.

Last week, MountainStar Health announced its new partnership with Solis Mammography, the nation’s largest independent provider of specialized breast health services. Plans for the partnership are expected to expand to additional communities later this year.

Solis Mammography features SmartCurve, a compression system utilizing artificial intelligence analysis and 3D technology, which according to the company website has been clinically proven to provide a more comfortable exam.

“We’re excited about all the ways women in Utah will benefit from this unique collaboration,” said Rebecca Hunter, MountainStar’s vice president of strategy for women’s health, in a news release. “Solis Mammography has been a trailblazer in the field of breast imaging for nearly 40 years. Their centers offer women a comforting, patient-focused environment to receive these important, life-saving tests.”

Utah faces the challenge of low mammography compliance rates, according to MountainStar Health, highlighting a critical need to increase awareness and easy access to advanced services.

“Our journey with MountainStar Healthcare is focused on the patient,” said Grant Davies, president and CEO of Solis Mammography. “Our collective goal is to positively impact the health and well-being of women in Utah by providing an unparalleled patient experience. We know that when we redefine the way mammography is experienced and improve access, compliance rates go up and we save more lives.”

Last year, the American College of Radiology updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening. All women, particularly Black and Ashkenazi Jewish women, are encouraged to have a risk assessment performed by age 25, instead of 30 as stated in the past. Women with an average risk are advised to begin annual mammograms at age 40, while those with higher risk factors should ask their physician about the screening test at an earlier age.

At age 20, women should begin monthly breast self-exams, recommendations say.

It’s also important to get familiar with your own breast density. Dense breasts have more glandular and connective tissue than fatty tissue and cancer tends to occur more commonly in dense tissue.

Solis’ first screening and diagnostic breast imaging center opened Monday at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. The other three centers will open in February.

For more information and how to learn to perform a self- breast exam, go to solismammo.com.

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