Many women can easily make time for regular manicures, pedicures, and hair appointments. But when it comes to making time for a mammogram it almost always gets pushed aside. Mammograms should become an essential part of your self-care routine because they can be a great help in detecting early signs of breast cancer. Some forms of breast cancer, like DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ, a non-invasive breast cancer that is contained within the milk ducts of the breast) cannot be detected with a self-examination and rely on mammograms or even MRIs to be detected. If left undiagnosed or left untreated, forty to fifty percent of DCIS cases may progress to invasive breast cancer (cancer which spreads to the surrounding breast tissue.)
Not all breast cancer begins with a lump or visual change. Four-fifths of all breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous). These can be abnormalities in the breast such as cysts, fibroadenomas (round, benign tissues that are painless and easily removed), and fat necrosis (round, firm lump formed by damaged or disintegrating fatty tissue). It is essential to monitor changes in your breasts through at-home and clinical examinations.
The difference between 2D and 3D mammograms is important when it comes to detection. 2D mammograms produce a single image, which makes it difficult to differentiate between benign masses or dense, fatty tissue and cancerous growth. 3D mammograms are composite images made from several different angles, producing a 3 dimensional X-ray that is able to show clearer and more concise results. In offering a clearer image, 3D mammograms reduce the risk of falsely identifying a tumor.
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For women over 40, most insurance companies cover 2D mammogram screenings. Medicare and other major health care providers cover 3D mammograms for women in the same age group.
The procedure, though often spoken of as painful, is at best uncomfortable due to the pressure placed on the breast. The mammogram itself usually only lasts between 10 and 15 minutes. Images are produced quickly and you should be able to speak to your doctor about your results before you leave the clinic. Overall, the process should not take more than an hour.
While breast cancer is common in older women, it does not mean that younger women cannot be diagnosed. In fact, younger women are being diagnosed more frequently today. This is due to an increase in clinical breast exams and at-home exams being conducted in younger women, allowing early detection of cancerous growths and other abnormalities.
It is important for women to get annual screenings to ensure that no cancer is developing. Clinical breast exams are imperative for young women since cancer cells can grow more rapidly in younger tissue. Mammograms can detect abnormalities that are the size of a pea and are therefore more successful in early detection than self-exams which often detect later stage cancers as larger-sized abnormalities.
Women with no family history of breast cancer are not safe-guarded against a diagnosis. Recent studies show that there is an increase in the amount of diagnoses in women with no family history of breast cancer.
Due to the increased risk of breast cancer in middle aged women, you should begin getting an annual mammogram around age 40. Women in their 20’s and 30’s should receive routine clinical exams, as well as perform self-exams monthly. While self-exams aren’t as accurate or in-depth as mammograms or ultrasounds, they allow you to become familiar with your breasts. This familiarity can help both you and your doctor spot abnormalities early on.
If you find a lump, do not try to diagnose it yourself. There is no substitute for a doctor’s evaluation. Remember that a large majority of noticed lumps or breast abnormalities are benign, but that it is always important to report variances to your doctor at the first sign of their appearance. Early detection leads to better results, every time.
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