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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is also an opportunity for physicians to stress the importance of an annual mammogram for women.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women.
In the United States, every year, one in eight women is diagnosed with this form of cancer, with the result that a woman is diagnosed every two minutes.
A mammogram is an essential step to take care of yourself and your breasts, which is why this procedure could save your life.
"A mammogram is a low-dose breast x-ray image used to screen for abnormal breast tissue changes and to screen for breast cancer," said Dr. Gerard Voorhees, a radiation oncologist at the Corpus Christi Medical Center. ,
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, just behind lung cancer. Breast cancer can occur in men, but it is nearly 100 times more common among women.
"The general guidelines for women with a medium risk or no greater than normal risk should start screening at the age of 45 or up to the age of 74," he said. Voorhees.
This is why annual mammography is of the utmost importance.
"Breast screening is so important for all women. Mammography in particular has a specificity of about 87%. This means that they can contract breast cancer, especially if God willing, at the beginning of 87% of women who undergo this test, "said Voorhees.
The fact that someone does not have a family history of cancer does not mean that he will never contract the disease.
"Some of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer: if there is a nipple discharge, if the skin of the breasts looks like an orange peel, if there is a lump or a lump obvious, these are all signs of a potential breast cancer, "said Voorhees.
"I think it's important that women undergo a mammogram. They can get mammograms anywhere. An excellent resource is the breast center of South Texas. Women can go to the center without an appointment, and they go without an appointment. The most important thing is that women spend their mammograms, "said Vorhees.
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an x-ray image of your breasts used to screen for breast cancer. Mammograms play a key role in early detection of breast cancer and help reduce the number of breast cancer deaths.
During a mammogram, your breasts are compressed between two firm surfaces to expand the breast tissue. Then, an X-ray captures black and white images of your breasts that are displayed on a computer screen and examined by a doctor who is looking for signs of cancer.
Mammography is an X-ray imaging of your breasts designed to detect tumors and other abnormalities. Mammography can be used for either screening or diagnostic purposes to assess breast size:
When to start mammography screening:
Talk to your doctor about your risk factors, your preferences, and the advantages and disadvantages of screening. Together, you can decide which mammography screening program is right for you.
Here are some general guidelines for when to start mammography screening:
- Women with average risk of breast cancer. Many women start mammograms at the age of 40 and undergo them every two to two years. Professional groups differ on their recommendations.
The American Cancer Society recommends women at average risk to begin annual mammographic screening at the age of 45 until age 54, and then continue every two years for at least the next 10 years. The US Prevention Services Working Group recommends that women start screening every two years, 50 to 74 years of age. However, these groups agree that women can choose to be screened from the age of 40.
- Women at high risk of breast cancer. Women at high risk for breast cancer could benefit by starting mammography screening before the age of 40. Talk to your doctor about assessing your individual risk of breast cancer. Your risk factors, such as your family history of breast cancer or precancerous breast disease, may prompt your doctor to recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with a mammogram.
Results:
Mammography produces mammograms – black and white images of your breast tissue. Mammograms are digital images that appear on a computer screen. A radiologist interprets the images and sends a written report of the results to your doctor.
The radiologist looks for signs of cancer or non-cancerous (benign) conditions that may require further testing, monitoring, or treatment.
Possible outcomes include:
- Calcium deposits (calcifications) in canals and other tissues
- Masses or pieces
- Asymmetric areas on mammography
- Dense areas appearing in a single breast or specific area of mammography
- New dense area appeared since your last mammogram
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