subject: How Breast Screening Is Enhanced By Using Digital Mammography [print this page] 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. The main reason for this is because computers aid in the diagnostic phase and are able to detect cancers much sooner than other methods and years before they can be felt as 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. Having all mammograms digital will make for the most accurate baseline as well as comparisons as well. 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. If you don't know your family history, for instance if you lost your mother at a young age, the best way is to assume you're in a high-risk group which changes the guidelines significantly. This means you'll want to move up the guidelines by at least five years, having a baseline digital mammogram when you're 30 instead of 35. 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.
Another suggestion for high-risk women is to have mammograms bi-annually once you turn 40. With digital mammography and a good baseline to compare with, any changes noticed by the technologist can be examined sooner and a core biopsy with a breast MRI can be done immediately to see if the change is benign or malignant. Catching things early enables doctors to cut out the problem area without having to resort to more drastic measures such as a mastectomy.
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.
by: Glinn Klienberg
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