The Importance Of Regular Mammograms: 3 Benefits & Risk

Gynecology

Do you need a mammography test when you turn 40? According to screening guidelines, an regular Mammograms (anually) is recommended for women when they turn 40 for early detection of breast cancer and treatment. But is it beneficial? Does it include any risks? Learn the mammography guidelines, procedure, benefits, and risks in this article. Schedule an appointment at Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center.

Regular Mammograms can Detect Cancer

Mammography is an imaging test used to check breast disease in women who experience breast problems like lumps, pain, nipple discharge, etc. This procedure is used to detect breast cancers, benign tumors, and cysts before they can be detected by palpation.

Mammography cannot detect an abnormal area of cancer; however, it can raise a significant suspicion of cancer, and the tissue can then be removed for a biopsy. Tissue may be removed by needle or open surgical biopsy and examined under a microscope to find if it’s cancer or not.

For many women at the age of 40, it is recommended they take an annual mammogram test to detect breast cancer early and get treatment earlier to prevent the risk of dying from breast cancer. Even studies show that breast cancer tends to be more aggressive in women in this age group especially women at the beginning of age 40.

Major risk factors of breast cancer are age, genetics, and breast density. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. After age 50, the probability of developing breast cancer within 10 years is 1 out of 43. Women who have a close relative with breast cancer also have an increased risk of about 5 to 10% due to gene mutations that are inherited. Women with dense breast tissue are also at significant risk of breast cancer than those without dense breasts.

However, women without any risk factors for breast cancer should also consider getting annual mammograms because the vast majority of breast cancer patients have no risk factors at all. Around 75% of patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no risk factors, which is why every woman needs to get a screening mammogram each year.

Procedure

Before the procedure, you may need to take these precautions:

Schedule the timing of the test when it is least tender: If your breasts are tender the week before and during menstruation, you need to try to schedule your mammogram for one to 2 weeks after your period starts. If you have breast implants, you should tell the doctor first before you schedule the exam.
Bring your previous mammogram images: If you’re going to a new facility for your mammogram, you need to take previous mammograms on a CD and give it to the radiologist, so that they can compare past mammograms with new images.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you’re pregnant or think you may be pregnant, please check with your doctor before scheduling the exam or your doctor may suggest you look for other options for diagnosis. You also let your technologist if you’re currently breastfeeding.
Avoid using deodorant, powder, or lotions, before your mammogram: Don’t use deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, lotions, creams, or perfumes under your arms or on your breasts. Metallic particles in powders and deodorants are visible on your mammogram and lead to confusion.

During the day of the procedure, the doctor asks you to change into a patient gown and remove all neck jewelry and clothing from the waist up.

For the procedure, you need to stand in front of an X-ray machine that is designed for mammography. A member of your healthcare team puts one of your breasts on a platform and raises or lowers the platform to match your height. Your head, arms, and torso should be positioned to an unobstructed view of your breast. Your breast is then gradually pressed against the platform by a transparent plastic plate for a few seconds to spread out the breast tissue. The pressure applied isn’t harmful, however it may cause some discomfort. You should tell your doctor team if the discomfort becomes too much.

Your breast must be compressed to even out its thickness so that X-rays can penetrate the breast tissue. The pressure also holds your breast still to decrease blurring from movement and minimizes the dose of radiation needed. During this X-ray exposure, you need to stand still and hold your breath.

After images are created of both your breasts, you may need to wait until your care team checks the quality of the images. If the views are inadequate for technical reasons, you may need to repeat part of the test. The entire procedure may take less than 30 minutes. After the procedure, you can dress in your normal clothes and go back to your usual activities.

Benefits of Mammography

Here are the common benefits you can get with regular mammograms:

Better chances of cure: Screening helps to detect cancers at an early stage, they can be treated more effectively, by reducing the number of deaths due to breast cancer among participants.
Less chemotherapy: As screening detects cancers at an early stage, they get treated without using chemotherapy.
Lower risk of dying from breast cancer: The number of deaths due to breast cancer is lower in patients who participate in regular screening programs than non-participants.

Risks of Mammography

Like all other tests, mammograms also have risks. It includes:

False positive test results: In some cases, it may give a false positive test because something looks like cancer but is not. This can lead to more tests, which are also expensive, invasive, time-consuming, and may lead to anxiety.
Overdiagnosis: When doctors detect cancer in a mammogram, they recommend several other tests to find the causes, symptoms, or problems that may get better on their own. Treatment of these cancers is called overtreatment, which may include treatments for breast cancer such as surgery or radiation therapy. This can cause unnecessary side effects. Other harms from breast cancer screening include pain during procedures and radiation exposure during mammograms. While the amount of radiation in a mammogram is small, it lowers the risks of having repeated X-rays.
False negative test results: Mammograms can also miss some cancers and produce false negative test results, which may delay finding a cancer and getting treatment.

Regular mammogram screening is a good option for women who just turned 40. They should go for annual mammograms to detect breast cancer earlier and get treatment. Studies found a decrease in the number of breast cancer deaths due to early mammogram detection and treatment. It’s not a risk-free procedure. But its benefits outweigh the risks. So, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of mammograms before starting to take the test.

Need help with a mammogram test, visit our breast surgeon or oncologist in Brooklyn clinic to get professional medical help. At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we have the best GYN doctor in Brooklyn, and we provide women with quality health care services. To schedule an appointment, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call us on 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at http://www.gynecologistbrooklyn.com/.