You probably know what a mammogram is, even if you have never undergone the procedure. Even if you don't know all the exact details of how it is accomplished, you will probably be aware of how effective mammograms are in detecting breast cancer in early stages, making survival much more likely. In fact, 96% of women who find they have breast cancer through a mammogram survive the cancer. This makes breast cancer in Phoenix, Seattle, San Diego, and all parts of the country less of the awful death sentence it once was.While breast self-exams are also great detection tools, a mammogram can show changes in the breast up to two years before a woman can find them on her own.
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray. X-rays pass through the body tissues but are stopped or slowed by dense matter like tumors and bones. In the breast, which has no bones, tumors can be spotted by a lighter spot in the developed x-ray photograph, indicating denser tissues and alerting your doctor to a possible problem. A mammogram is accomplished through compression.
Each breast is squeezed in two ways during the mammogram - once horizontally and once vertically while the x-ray is being taken. Your doctor will exam the images to look for natural changes in your breast tissue (which occurs through age and hormonal fluctuations) and anything that might indicate problems. While compression can be uncomfortable, it is not usually very painful. If it is, there are precautions you can take before your mammogram, such as taking pain medication before the exam; stopping hormone therapy several days before (with your doctor's guidance); and asking that the compression be as light as possible. You can also schedule the mammogram for right after your menstrual cycle, when your breast tissue will not be as tender.
It is necessary to compress the breast for a number of reasons. By being held and compressed, the tissue is spread more thinly and evenly, allowing the use of fewer x-rays and limiting the confusion of figuring out what's what in denser tissue. It is also essential for the breast to be completely still, and compression accomplishes this where a woman standing, breathing, and wiggling with small muscle movements with no stabilization would greatly decrease the clarity of the final image. While the breast is firmly compressed and stabilized, x-rays will not scatter so much, rendering a sharper image.
Women should begin getting a mammogram every one to two years beginning at 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer, or you have had breast cancer in the past, don't let age stop you from getting that first mammogram.
Author Resource:-
Scottsdale Medical Imaging's is about breast cancer Phoenix a team of board-certified, fellowship-trained breast imaging radiologists are dedicated to and passionate about the early detection of breast cancer. (http://www.getamammo.com/)
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