The mammogram has been in existence for more than thirty years and it is probably the single most important tool that the medical community has in the fight against breast cancer. Although mammograms cannot prevent breast cancer, they can help to save the lives of those afflicted by providing a means for early detection and evaluation. This means that many more women being treated for the disease will not have to lose their breasts.
Mammograms, however, like most other things in life, are not perfect. Breast cancer can still hide within normal breast tissue, resulting in a “false negative” finding. Mammography can also mistake an abnormality for cancer that turns out to be normal. According to Dr. Susan Orel, M.D, “the biggest misconception about mammography is that it picks up every breast cancer. It misses, in fact, at least 10 percent. If you feel a lump that doesn’t show up on a mammogram, bring it to your doctor’s attention. Get it evaluated quickly.”
So how does the average woman know what course of action to take to protect herself? According to the leading experts at the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology, the answer is that even though the mammogram is not perfect, if you are forty years of age or older, you should get one every year. Other effective weapons promoting early detection are self-examination and other forms of breast imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI scanning.
Ladies, caveat emptor all you like, but when it comes to our breasts, no amount of time or money in evaluating their health (and safety) can ever be considered either a waste or extravagant. Remember while considering the pros and cons of getting a mammogram, that ultimately the breast you save may well be your own.
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What is YOUR experience with mammograms? Please share.