Breast Cancer Information

Mammogram and Breast Cancer Screening


Cancer screening
The term screening is commonly used for a test that is used for evaluation of a person for possible disease without the person ever having any symptoms or signs of the disease. Screening tests are usually undertaken in a target population, which has significantly high risk of developing the disease. Mammogram is a screening technique used for breast cancer, and the target population for mammogram is women who are aged 40 and above. PSA testing is a screening test for prostate cancer and the target population is men over 50 years of age. Screening tests cannot be employed in all diseases. In some cases a useful screening test may not be available, and in some other cases it may not be worth screening for a disease because screening and finding out the disease early may not change the natural history of disease. The later is probably true in case of screening of lung cancer. From the studies so far published, there is no clear evidence to suggest that screening for lung cancer in high-risk population (smokers) would improve survival.

Breast cancer screening
Unlike lung cancer, breast cancer can be screened using available techniques with beneficial results. Mammogram is the only accepted screening test for breast cancer. Mammogram till this date may have saved lives of thousands of women, by detecting the disease at a very early stage, when it is mostly curable. Screening for mammogram does not prevent the occurrence of breast cancer, but instead it provides a very simple and useful technique to detect breast cancer at a very early stage. Mammogram is capable of detecting breast cancer at a stage prior to infiltration of the tumor to the surrounding structures, called stage 0 breast cancer or carcinoma in situ. Recommendations for breast cancer screening vary from country to country and within the same country according to the views of different organizations who recommend the screening. American Cancer Society recommends that "women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health."

What is a mammogram?
Mammogram is just an X-ray photograph of your breast, and works in principle the same way as your chest X-ray. The breast tissue is compressed between two plates and an X-ray picture is taken. Doctors would look at the X-ray and determine if there are any abnormalities in the picture. Breast cancer usually appears in the form of calcifications, architectural distortions, or abnormal densities. Since mammogram uses X-rays, there may be slight risk associated with exposure to radiation in women who get mammograms. However the amount of radiation associated with mammogram examination is very small and is strictly controlled by regulatory agencies like National Department of Health and Human Services. Very strict regulations are enforced by this agency to make sure that mammography equipment is safe and uses the lowest dose of radiation possible. The dose of radiation used by the modern mammogram machines does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer.

Digital mammography
Digital mammograms are similar to conventional X-ray film mammograms except that the pictures are produced in the digital media in a computer. Digital pictures have the advantages of manipulation of light and contrast and hence would be more useful for the studying the mammography picture. It was claimed in the past that digital mammogram is superior to conventional mammograms in terms of accuracy, however a recent study has shown that digital mammography no better than regular mammography.

Computer Aided Detection (CAD)
CAD is sophisticated computer program that can compare areas of the digital mammography picture and aid the physician to more easily detect breast cancer. Studies have shown that CAD system improved diagnostic accuracy by about 20 percent.

Clinical breast examination and self breast examination
An article on breast cancer screening will not be complete without mentioning clinical breast examination and (CBE) and self breast examination (SBE). CBE and SBE are useful adjuvant to mammogram for detection of breast cancer. It is also to be mentioned that about 10 percent of all tumors that can be felt by the physicians may not be seen in a mammogram, hence if the physician feels a tumor, the absence of abnormality in the mammogram does not ensure absence of a breast tumor. Such patients should be evaluated by biopsy.

Self-breast examination as the name implies denotes examination of breast by women, without the help of a physician. This can be undertaken in the privacy of their home. Probably the best time to do a self-breast examination is while taking showers. Women can ask their physicians to teach them the technique of self-breast examination. American Cancer Society recommends "women in 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year." Regarding self-breast examination, American Cancer Society gives the following recommendations: "BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away."

The author is the webmaster for http://medicineworld.org which features many useful articles and news items related to cancer. You can find more information on breast cancer, breast cancer news, and breast cancer treatment in author's breast cancer page of the website.


MORE RESOURCES:

Sify

Pink positivity and breast cancer
guardian.co.uk, UK - 8 hours ago
Thanks to Libby Brooks's timely comment on breast cancer awareness month (Let's not pinkwash proper discussion about this disease, October 2), ...
Southern Miss turns pink in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Hattiesburg American
Join the Power of Pink for breast cancer awareness KTRE
Walk to fight cancer WIVB
Sify
all 16 news articles


Breast Cancer: Dietary And Other Prevention Strategies
Mmegi Online, Botswana - 12 hours ago
By the way, I hope you realise that October is Breast Cancer Month. So if you see a whole lot of people (I hope) - women, men, and children wearing pink ...
Chat live Tuesday with breast cancer experts Hattiesburg American
Sisters, Check Your Breasts Palm Beach Post
all 3 news articles


First Florida Use of New AccuBoost Breast Cancer Treatment
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
TAMPA, Fla., Oct 6, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- More that 13000 women in Florida will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, a number that is ...


dBTechno

Don’t tell me how I should feel about my breast cancer
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 22 hours ago
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I was quite open about it – but this turned out to be a mistake. By far the hardest part of handling my ...
Women supporting women through breast cancer Kansas City Star
VIDEO GAMES MONTH: EA Sports joins breast cancer Licensing.biz
Ocean City to take on rosy hue as community supports breast cancer ... Bethany Beach Wave
PR Web (press release) - Culpeper Star Exponent
all 392 news articles


PR Web (press release)

Gregg Gift Company Raises Funds and Raises Spirits with National ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 42 minutes ago
This elegant collection, launched in partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc includes a beautiful two-tone pink book and Bible cover, ...
Alki Beach Run raises over $50000 Westseattleherald.com
all 2 news articles


Point Pleasant Register

Residents promote breast cancer awareness
Point Pleasant Register, WV - 1 hour ago
By Nicole Fields POINT PLEASANT — It was a sea of pink as local residents gathered Monday to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Mason County. ...
Fighting Breast Cancer One Step at a Time WTAP-TV
Breast Cancer Awareness WCHS
Breast Cancer Wreath Unveiled in Charleston WSAZ-TV
all 4 news articles


Women enlist: Volunteers needed for studies into cause of breast ...
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ - 3 hours ago
BY MEG NUGENT She has joined the Love/Avon Army of Women, an initiative launched for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in which a million women volunteers are ...
Get hip to osteoporosis Scarlet Scuttlebutt
all 2 news articles


News 10 Now

Annual walk raises $3.3M to battle breast cancer
Boston Herald, United States - Oct 5, 2008
By Benjamin Bell About 38000 people were in Boston yesterday taking part in the 16th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, raising $3.3 million ...
Boston Hosts 16th Annual Breast Cancer Walk WBKO
Cancer survivors attend the annual Making Strides Against Breast ... News 10 Now
Thousands Raise $$ to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer WGRZ-TV
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - The Gazette (Montreal)
all 9 news articles


USA Today

Buy with an eye to the cure during Breast Cancer Awareness month
USA Today - 5 hours ago
By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY Be sure to shop smart. The pink ribbon isn't copyrighted, so anyone can put it on anything. Sporting it on your jacket, ...


'Pink' forum in Wyomissing focuses on breast cancer
Reading Eagle, PA - 3 hours ago
The event was organized by the Reading Hospital Regional Cancer Center and Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County. The audience heard Miller's ...
Pink Power Night Held in Wyomissing for Breast Cancer Research WFMZ-TV Online
all 2 news articles

Breast-Cancer - Google News

home | site map
© 2006