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MAMMOGRAMS
Breast cancer. It worries
women more than any other disease; it is the second leading cause of
cancer deaths in American women; and one out of every ten women will
develop breast cancer sometime during her lifetime. Approximately
120,000 women in the U.S. will develop the disease this year and almost
40,000 will die from it. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that eight out
of 10 breast tumors are not cancerous (benign). Medical technology has
made significant advance in the early detection and treatment of breast
cancer. With the heightened public awareness about the importance of
early detection, women can now play a more aggressive role in combating
breast cancer.
No one knows exactly what
causes breast cancer, so there is little one can do to prevent it from
occurring. Research has shown, however, that some women are more “at
risk” than others; more than two thirds of all breast cancers are
found in women over 50 years of age; women with mothers or sisters who
have had breast cancer develop the disease at about twice the average
rate and women who have already had cancer in one breast have a three
times greater chance of developing it in the other breast.
A woman’s breasts change
throughout her life. Their size, shape and texture may be influenced by
factors such as age, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, birth control or other
hormone pills, menopause, or a bruise or blow to the chest. The breast
is made up of ducts, lobes, fat and underlying bone. It is normal for
the breasts to feel lumpy or uneven. Each breast is different, and in
fact no two even on the same woman match exactly. Therefore, it is
important for women to become intimately familiar with their own breast
“geography” through regular breast self-examination (BSE). Ask your
physician to instruct you in the correct procedure for conducting the
exams. After learning what is normal for you, you should be able to
identify any changes or lumps that were not detected in previous exams.
Breast cancer can take many
forms, and it can produce many abnormalities so any change in the breast
warrants investigation. A lump or thickening of the breast is the most
common symptom of breast cancer. The lump may be tender, but most often
is painless.
The second most common symptom,
found in ten percent of the cases, is a discharge from the nipple. This
discharge may be clear, milky or sometimes bloody. But like most lumps,
most discharges indicate a benign condition.
Other symptoms include dimpling
or puckering of the skin, which could mean that a growth is pulling the
overlying skin inward; retraction of the nipple, other changes in skin
color or texture; or swelling, redness or heat in the breast.
If you feel something unusual
in one breast, check to see if it is also present in the other breast.
Occasionally, the first sign of the tumor is enlargement of a lymph node
in the underarm area. Remember that lumps a few days before or during
your menstrual period may be the normal collection of fluid during that
time, but be sure to re-examine your breasts when your period ends. If
the lump persists, don’t try to diagnose it yourself; contact your
doctor immediately. While it is likely to be noncancerous, don’t take
any chances. Your best opportunity of beating breast cancer is early
detection.
Currently, mammography is the
best technique for screening and detecting early breast cancer, often
before it is large enough to be felt, even by the most experienced
physician. Mammography uses safe, low-dose-X-rays to create an image of
the breast. It can identify changes in the structure of the breast which
doctors believe lead to very early cancer.
A typical mammographic study
consists of two views of each breast, one from the top and one from the
side. The complete procedure takes only a few minutes to complete. You
will be asked to remove you clothing above the waist, and to put on a
loose fitting smock that opens down the front. The radiology
technologist will position one breast at time in a special device that
flattens the breast tissue, spreading it out so that the X-rays can
produce as precise an image as possible. You may experience slight
discomfort as the breast is compressed, but it will last for no more
than a few seconds.
After the “films” are
developed, they are analyzed by a radiologist, who will report an
interpretation to your physician. They recognize that women who undergo
mammography are concerned about what the test might reveal, so this
process is completed as quickly as possible.
The American Cancer Society, in
its published guidelines for physicians, suggests that a “baseline”
mammogram be performed on women between the ages of 35 and 40. The
American College of Radiology recommends that when there is a family
history of breast cancer, the test should be done at an earlier age.
Most medical professional organizations recommend that annual
mammography and physical examinations be scheduled for women over the
age of 50.
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