Screenings For Breast Cancer
|
|
Doctors recommend three screenings for those
at risk for breast cancer. They are screening mammograms,
breast exam by a medical professional, and self-exams of the
breasts. The National Cancer Institute has set specific
guidelines and recommendations for how often these three
screenings should be done.
Screening mammograms are recommended for
women in their 40’s or older every one to two years. If a
woman is under 40 but has other risk factors for developing
breast cancer, their health care professional can help them
decide how often they should have this screening.
Mammograms will often show a small lump even before it is
felt, or show tiny specks of calcium. These can be
precancerous and further tests are needed to discover if
there are any abnormal cells present. If you do have a lump
that shows up on a mammogram, your doctor may ask you to
have further tests. |
A more complex mammogram, ultrasound, or a
biopsy might be suggested. The only way to tell if the
cells are cancerous is by having a biopsy. Biopsies are performed with small, thin needles,
larger needles, or by a small incision made in the affected
area. A pathologist will then examine the cells under a
microscope to find out if the extracted cells are cancerous.
Mammograms are the best tool doctors have in
discovering breast cancer, but they are not foolproof. A mammogram
can give a false negative, false positive, or may not detect some
cancers at all. These mammograms have little risk because of the low
dosage of radiation used. Shields can be provided to protect other
areas of your body if you are requested to have several mammograms.
Normally, there is a small risk of damage from a mammogram.
Clinical breast exams are performed regularly when you
have your yearly physical. Your health care provider will look at
your breasts to discover if there are any size or color
abnormalities. They will check for skin discoloration, rashes,
and other abnormal signs. The nipples may be squeezed to check
if fluid other than milk is present.
|
During the exam, your doctor may ask you to raise your arms
above your head, put your hands on your hips, or let them
dangle at your sides. The breast exam consists of using
fingers to check the entire breast, under the arm, and
around the collarbone for any lumps that can be felt. The
lump normally will be the size of a pea before it can be
felt. Lymph nodes are also checked now, to check for
swelling or abnormalities.
A self-breast exam should be done monthly to
check for any changes or lumps in your breasts. You should
remember that as you age, your breasts will start to change
shape, and other hormonal changes can affect them during the
menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, or if you are taking
birth control pills. The National Cancer Institute
recommends you do a self-exam every month at the same time
of each month. It has been suggested you choose your
birthday as the date for performing your self-exam each
month. |
|
|
