How Digital Mammography Is Improving Breast Screening
The key to breast care and to ensuring that surviving breast cancer is a matter of science instead of luck, you have to detect it as soon as possible. The best way to detect breast cancer is with mammography and digital mammography is the most accurate method available today. This is because computer assistance in the diagnostic process is capable of detecting cancer much sooner than older methods and can detect them years before becoming massy enough to become a lump.
Guidelines state that you should have a mammogram once a year after you turn forty. Also, to have a valid way to compare healthy breasts later, the guidelines say you need to have a baseline mammogram at about age 35. In order to be able to make the most accurate comparisons, having all the mammograms digital are best. Even though these guidelines have been suggested for years, you have to do things differently if you're in a high-risk category.
If there is a history of breast cancer in your family, especially if someone in your immediate family such as your mother, grandmother or sister has had breast cancer this places you in a high risk group. Also, if you don't know your family's background for whatever reason you may want to assume you're in a high risk category as well. This changes the guidelines significantly. Instead of having a baseline digital mammogram when you're thirty-five, have one when you're thirty instead. Also, start having yearly mammograms when you're thirty-five as well. Those in high risk groups have a greater chance of developing breast cancer younger so taking precautions sooner is a necessity.
An added suggestion for those in high risk groups is to have a mammogram done twice a year after age forty as well. Using digital mammography and having a digital baseline to compare new scans to, the technologist will have the ability to catch changes sooner and a core biopsy with an MRI can be done to see if the affected area is cancerous. This enables the doctors to excise the problem area much sooner without having to resort to radical surgeries such as a partial or full mastectomies.
Since there is currently no way to vaccinate against breast cancer, detecting it early is the best way to survive it. Take every precaution possible such as doing self-exams regularly, getting breast cancer screening exams and having digital mammograms done to ensure that if you do develop breast cancer, it's caught early.
About the Author
Breast care is extremely important for woman of any age but many simply don't think about how exams can literally save their lives. Glinn Klienberg knows the importance of breast cancer screenings and he makes sure the women in his life know too. Visit http://www.porterhospital.org/breastcare for more information.
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