It also recognized that mammograms expose women to radiation, which in some cases could wind up causing cancer in otherwise healthy women. Those recommendations touched off a firestorm and were denounced by women's health advocates, who have long argued that early detection gives the best chance of survival.
Mammography Can Rupture Tumors and Spread Malignant Cells
Not surprisingly, this can cause significant pain. However, there is also a serious health risk associated with the compression applied to the breasts.
The evidence of harm and the lack of benefit led the Swiss Medical Board to recommend abolishing mammography as a mass‑ screening program. This is the first step at making an objective evaluation not influenced by politics and industry's propaganda.
The USPSTF recommends that women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years. Women who are 40 to 49 years old should talk to their doctor or other health care provider about when to start and how often to get a mammogram.
Most women are recalled because an area has shown up on the mammogram and more information is needed before a result can be given. This could be an area of the breast that looks slightly different from the rest of the breast or the other breast, or from a previous mammogram if you've had one.
You may be called back to a breast assessment clinic after your mammogram. This is because screening suggests further tests are needed. This does not necessarily mean there's something wrong, as three out or four women recalled have normal results after attending the assessment clinic.
Mammogram compression can cause bruising and has led to the rupture of breast implants, cysts, and blood vessels. Women with dense breasts are often advised to take painkillers or tranquilizers “to endure the procedure more comfortably.” Yet, pain is there for a reason.
Should I have an ultrasound instead of a mammogram? In general, no. It's possible that breast ultrasounds may miss some smaller tumors that can be detected with mammography. In addition, ultrasounds are less accurate if you are overweight or have large breasts.
Modern-day mammography involves a tiny amount of radiation exposure, even less than a standard chest X-ray. On average, the total radiation dose for a typical mammogram with two views of each breast is about 0.4 millisieverts, or mSv. (A mSv is a measure of radiation dose).
Medical guidance suggests a three-year interval between screening mammograms. Because mammograms use X-rays, your body experiences a small amount of radiation exposure each time. This is well within the health guidelines.
Because the risks may outweigh the benefits, the European Breast Guidelines recommend against annual mammography screening. Screening is not suggested for women ages 40 to 44 years but is suggested every two to three years for women ages 45 to 74 years.
A starting age for routine mammography of 50 years was recommended by 16 of 21 countries; all countries but one recommended a biennial interval, and 14 recommended a stopping age of 69 or 70 years.
According to BreastCancer.org, mammograms are safe. The NCI , American Cancer Society (ACS) , BreastCancer.org, and other agencies and organizations support regular mammogram screenings to help detect cancer.
Screening mammography is good at finding breast cancer, especially in women ages 50 and older. Overall, the sensitivity of mammography is about 87 percent [37]. This means mammography correctly identifies about 87 percent of women who have breast cancer.
Ra- diologists should be encouraged to con- tinue using firm compression in the performance of mammography and should be aware that occasional cyst rupture may occur.
Traditional breast MRI uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed 3D images of breast tissue after a contrast dye is injected into a vein. Breast MRI is not limited by breast density, and research has shown that it is more sensitive than mammography at finding breast cancer.
Take a Radiation-Neutralizing Bath Following Your Scan
Dissolve one to two pounds of salt with one to two pounds of baking soda in a hot bath, and soak for 40 minutes. Radiation is acidifying to the body, while a salt and baking soda soak is highly alkaline, which helps to neutralize radiation's effect.
The average effective dose from two-view digital mammography is 0.4 mSv or approximate 7 weeks of natural background radiation.
Furthermore, there has never been a case of breast cancer proven to be caused from radiation exposure during a mammogram. If you would like to know more about radiation safety, please visit the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada website. Myth: You don't need to get screened for breast cancer before age 40.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses sound waves to image the breast. Ultrasound can be especially useful among individuals who have dense breasts, but it should not be used as a substitute for a mammogram.
Breast ultrasound is not currently a recommended screening tool for breast cancer, because it can miss many early signs of a tumor. Some patients might be better candidates for an ultrasound compared to a mammogram.
Breast ultrasound is not usually done to screen for breast cancer. This is because it may miss some early signs of cancer. An example of early signs that may not show up on ultrasound are tiny calcium deposits called microcalcifications.
Many mammography facilities use a small self-adhesive skin marker to readily identify the nipple. A nipple marker is placed on the patient before her mammogram and subsequently serves as a reliable and stable landmark on mammograms for the registration of multiple images.
Several factors contribute to post-mammogram breast pain. First, the compression of your breasts during the exam can lead to some tenderness and soreness. The amount of pain involved depends on the size of your breasts and the various positions you are asked to hold.
Mammographic compression has been associated with cutaneous bruising, haematoma, rupture of breast implants and cystic masses.