| #ffffff;" /> | | | | over, mammograms have been able to reduce the |
| Most women know that keeping an eye on their | | | | number of women with breast cancer from dying by |
| breasts is essential to their health and well being. By | | | | 35 percent. When women ages 40 to 50 years old |
| doing monthly breast exams, women get an idea of | | | | get mammograms, their chances are also lowered by |
| how their breasts are supposed to look and feel. | | | | 25 percent to 35 percent. When the disease is found |
| When something feels out of the ordinary, they will | | | | in its early stages by a mammogram, women have a |
| likely turn to their physician for an official diagnosis. | | | | greater chance of keeping their breasts instead of |
| Their physician will then conduct a breast exam and | | | | needing a mastectomy which can scar a woman for |
| then order other tests. These include: MRIs, | | | | years to come. |
| ultrasounds, mammograms and PET scans. | | | | Second, diagnosis testing involves more advanced |
| Any one of these tests can cause great anxiety for | | | | technology devices including a magnetic resonance |
| a woman. They are already worried about what | | | | imaging machine or better known as the MRI and |
| could be wrong with their breasts. However, each | | | | ultrasound. Doctors may also do bone scans and |
| one of these tests is vital to their health for three | | | | blood tests to get full confirmation of the illness. |
| reasons. | | | | What is a MRI? A MRI machine utilizes magnetic fields |
| - It helps to detect breast cancer in its early stages. | | | | to obtain pictures of the body. When a doctor orders |
| That’s when breast cancer can be treated | | | | tests on a woman’s breast, technicians will |
| the most. | | | | use a breast coil to keep it in place. When a MRI is |
| - It helps doctors determine and design a plan of | | | | being done, the patient must lie absolutely still during |
| action that is best for the woman’s needs. | | | | the procedure. There are many advantages to using |
| - It helps doctors determine how to go about with | | | | the MRI to detect breast cancer but it is also very |
| the patient’s ongoing care. | | | | expensive and can cause some metal objects in the |
| To fight breast cancer, there are two testing stages: | | | | body to move. |
| screening tests and diagnostic tests. | | | | What is an ultrasound? An ultrasound uses sound |
| First, screening tests involve a yearly physical exam | | | | waves of high frequency to give doctors a picture of |
| and mammogram. These are done during a | | | | the breast. Ultrasounds are usually done after a |
| woman’s annual physical exam. Often times, | | | | breast lump is found. It will allow the doctor to |
| a woman with breast cancer will not exhibit any signs | | | | determine if the lump is firm. Yet, this device cannot |
| of the disease in its early stages thus screening tests | | | | give doctors the pertinent, need to know information |
| are vital in finding and diagnosing the illness. | | | | on what kind of lump it is. That is… if the lump |
| What is a mammogram? A mammogram is an X-ray | | | | is benign or malignant . Ultrasounds can help doctors |
| machine and is usually the first tool used by doctors | | | | with biopsy needles by using it to guide the needle |
| to locate breast cancer. For women ages 50 and | | | | directly to the suspicious tissue. |