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| Is there a way to minimize the discomfort associated with getting a mammogram? The mammogram machine has compression plates to thin and flatten the breast. If the compression is adequate, the quality of the picture is improved and the x-ray dose is lower. Two or three views are taken of each breast to unfold the overlapping breast densities seen on the film. Some women's breasts are unusually sensitive to the squeezing necessary to pull the breast tissue away from the chest wall and compress it between the plates for the x-ray pictures. The procedure is short and takes only a few seconds for each exposure. It may help to lessen the discomfort of the procedure by delaying the test until after a menstrual period or early in the monthly cycle. Every person's ability to tolerate pain or discomfort varies. Most women admit that any pain associated with mammography is short and the benefits far outweigh the momentary discomfort. Mammography is a means for detecting breast cancer in an early stage. Detecting breast cancer early contributes to a higher survival rate and a reduction in mortality. Research is being done in imaging technology such as magnetic resonance imaging, digital mammography, scintigraphy, and positron emission tomography. The National Cancer Institute scientists are researching methods to detect traces of breast cancer in blood, urine and nipple aspirates. Until another tool proves to be as effective or more effective, continue with your annual mammography. Women who have fibrocystic disease have breast tenderness and report that having the mammogram causes discomfort and sometimes extreme pain with the compression of the breast. It is important that a trained, experienced technician conduct the mammogram in a sensitive, caring manner. In cases where women experience great discomfort they should discuss this with their technicians and physicians. The process should have tolerable discomfort. An ultrasound sends high frequency sound waves through the breast. The sound wave bounces back if something like a tumor is in the way. If nothing is there, the wave goes straight through the breast tissue. An ultrasound does not pick out small details like a mammogram but does show characteristics of an existing lump. It is mostly used to get more information about an existing lump, such as, whether it is a fluid filled sac or if it is a solid tumor. The problem of using ultrasound instead of a mammogram is that with ultrasound the entire breast cannot be done accurately. Because of the density and contour of the breast, it is too difficult to tell normal breast tissue from a tumor. Ultrasound is best for looking at an existing lump for precise characteristics. TECHNETIUM-99m SESTAMIBI Technetium-99m Sestamibi is being studied for the following: to determine if benign lesions can be distinguished from malignant lesions adequately, to determine if lesions less than 1.2 cm can be identified, and to determine how much cellular uptake occurs. The uptake is related to the vascularity (composed of blood vessels) and new vascularity Scintigraphy has been the use of isotope screening for skeletal metastases of breast cancer. Thallium-201 has been used and Technetium-99m Sestambibi may still be under investigation to identify breast lesions. It was unclear with Sestambibi if benign lesions could be distinguished from malignant lesions adequately to eliminate some of the procedures needed to diagnose cancer. The size of the lesion detection has been a factor, in that it may not identify lesions less than 1.2 cm. The uptake of the isotope is related to how vascular the area is (more blood vessels in the area, more uptake). Recent studies of scintigrams to screen for bone metastases show that scintigraphy may be of value in symptomatic or more advanced breast disease but show minimal detection rate in women who were node negative and those who have tumors less than 2 cm. It is recommended, based on studies, that routine bone scans not be adopted for follow-up of patients with stage II (tumors 2 cm or less) breast cancer. Bone scintigraphy should be reserved for evaluation of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of bone metastases. Many physicians recommend the use of a serum tumor test, CA-27.29, which has been FDA approved for the screening of breast cancer recurrence instead of bone scans. If the blood test CA-27.29 is elevated, the individual should undergo further testing to search for metastasis. |
| EARLY DETECTION: DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS? Each year, 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 die. One woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 will die this year. If detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram. The National Cancer Institute and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that women in their forties and older have mammograms every one to two years. A complete early detection plan also includes regular clinical breast examinations by a trained medical professional. Monthly breast self-exams are suggested in addition. |
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| Go to this site below, down on the middle of the page click the pink button to give a women a free mammogram. |
| LYMPHLAND |
