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2007-05-01 16:21:00

Mammograms can be a gift

I’m at that age where it’s time for me to get a mammogram. Do you have any sugeestions?

Women refer to it as the yearly mammogram torture, and many cite ridiculous reasons for avoiding their yearly screening. The real reason for avoidance is that they are afraid of possible negative news they don’t want to face. Living in the lull of benign neglect, however, is the surest way to put yourself at risk. Managing your health responsibly should be number one if you value yourself. Being a survivor of breast cancer, I can state with deep conviction that the yearly procedure most probably saved my life. My cancer was detected early due to regular screening. I had a lumpectomy, radiation and then was given some chemo drugs. I have been cancer free for seven years. I think of mammograms as a life ensuring gift, not a dreaded procedure. The American Cancer Society estimates that 178,480 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and over 44% will die. For many years the Cancer Society has recommended for all women over 40 to have a yearly mammogram. Early detection is the most critical factor in treating breast cancer successfully. Widespread acceptance by women to go for yearly mammography has resulted in a 24% drop in the breast cancer death rate from l989 to 2003. There are two kinds of mammograms. The yearly general breast exam is called a screening mammogram. Each breast is x-rayed in twice; side-to-side and top to bottom. Potential abnormalities are found in about 6 to 8% of women, requiring further evaluation such as breast ultrasound or a needle biopsy. The other is a diagnostic mammogram. These focus specifically on an area of tissue that appeared abnormal in the screening mammogram. Yet, mammography is not perfect. Sometimes the clinician may misread the film. Other false conclusions may occur because mammography is not as accurate as a newer screening technology called MRI, magnetic resonance imaging. A recent report from the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine based on a large study states that MRI detected cancers had been missed by traditional screenings in 3.1% of patients. Moreover, MRI screening can find the disease in the opposite breast better than mammography or clinical examination, specifically in newly diagnosed women with cancer in one breast. Dr. Constance D. Lehman, Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and lead study author states that MRI screening could help spare women unnecessary mastectomies or other repeated treatments because MRI is more accurate than other imaging methods. Greater accuracy allows for improved decision making as to the best treatment course. Why then wouldn’t every woman choose MRI screenings? MRI procedures cost between $1,000. - $2,000. ten times the average cost of mammography, and not all medical plans cover MRI. Additionally, MRI produces a relatively high number of false positive results that lead to unnecessary biopsies. Finally, MRI is not a replacement for mammography. It does not detect calcifications, one of the very earliest signs of breast cancer. But it is strongly recommended for high-risk women with at least a 20% to 30% risk of developing the disease. Who is at risk? Women having received chest radiation between the ages 10 and 30. Women who have a genetic mutation or have a close relative who has a key mutated gene. Also women in whose family members, mother, sisters or aunts have had breast cancer. High-risk women account for about 1% of the 65 million women above the age of 40. But every woman, high or low-risk, has the ability to protect her life by being diligent about yearly health screenings.