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.

Randy A. Birken, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.O.G.
Texas Medical Arts Tower
17070 Red Oak Drive, Suite 201 A - Houston, TX 77090
Office: 281.893.1246  Fax: 281.444.6259

Copyright 2000-2006 Randy A. Birken, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.O.G.  All Right Reserved
Disclaimer and Privacy Policy

Web Design by The Texas Network Houston, Texas