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Mammography Facts

Mammograms are meant to detect cancer in early stages when it’s most curable, but they don’t prevent cancer.

When you schedule a mammogram, you should know whether your doctor has ordered a screening or diagnostic test. A screening mammogram is routine, and a radiologist reads the x-ray after you leave. Your physician might request a diagnostic mammogram if you’ve found a lump, have a personal history of breast cancer, or if you’re having suspicious symptoms.

We schedule more time if you need a diagnostic mammogram because we might need more pictures, but we give the same attention to both screening and diagnostic mammograms.

While mammograms are our best tool for detecting breast cancer, you shouldn’t rely on them solely. Mammograms do not detect all cancers, so you should perform monthly breast self-exams (BSE) and have your physician examine your breasts once a year. Do your BSE at the same time each month.

Postmenopausal women who take estrogen might experience a change in their mammograms. Estrogen might cause breast tissue to become more dense, which makes reading mammograms more challenging. Additional pictures may have to be taken, but having denser tissue doesn’t increase your risk of breast cancer.

What does increase your risk? Factors include having a personal history of breast cancer, having a mother or sister with breast cancer, having no children or having the first one after age 30, and starting menstruation before age 12.

If you find a lump, call your doctor, but don’t panic and don’t assume the worst. Keep in mind that the vast majority of breast lumps are benign.

Suzanne Hand, M.D.
Radiologist
Drs. Hill & Thomas Co.
  

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