A Northwestern Medicine breast radiologist will lead a free presentation on breast cancer screening at the Park Ridge Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Georgia Giakoumis Spear, chief of breast imaging at Northwestern Medicine, will discuss how personal and family history affect breast cancer risk, what women with dense breast tissue should know and when higher-risk patients may need earlier or additional screening. The talk begins at 1 p.m.

The presentation, titled "An Expert Guide to Screening Guidelines, Personal Risk and Early Detection," will also address the role of 3D mammography, breast ultrasound and MRI, according to an event listing on Patch. Spear plans to explain why screening guidelines can differ and what happens after an abnormal mammogram, including the importance of timely follow-up.

Attendees can ask questions during the session about screening options and what to discuss with their own healthcare providers.

"Breast cancer screening recommendations continue to evolve, and it can be difficult for women to know what applies to them. … Understanding your personal and family history, breast density and individual risk factors is an important part of making informed decisions about screening," Spear said in the event announcement.

Spear is also a professor of radiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and has held leadership roles with national organizations including the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging.

The Hellenic American Women's Council – Great Lakes organized the event. The National Herald, a Greek-American publication, also covered the upcoming presentation.

Admission is free. Space is limited, and organizers say registration is available at tinyurl.com/dr-spear. The Park Ridge Public Library is at 20 S. Prospect Ave.

The library is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit parkridgelibrary.org or call 847-825-3123 for a full calendar of programs.