| Not only is breast cancer a nasty word to hear it is a | | | | screen women aged between 50 and 70. A |
| painful condition and frightening, it gets even nastier | | | | mammogram will be requested if you have breast |
| sounding if your doctor has diagnosed you with the | | | | cancer symptoms, such as a lump. What you can |
| disease. Sadly, although scary, women still choose to | | | | expect when a mammogram is performed is having a |
| avoid initiating a self breast examination on them self. | | | | radiographer present. He/she will help you to position |
| Why do women ignore cancer awareness alerts | | | | one breast at a time on a small flat plate, with an |
| which point out the vital concerns of catching cancer | | | | X-ray plate under it. Another flat plate will be placed |
| in its early stage when they know breast cancer can | | | | over the breast. Once the machine is activated, the |
| be a fatal condition? | | | | breast is slightly compressed between the two. |
| There can only be one reason why decisions of | | | | Compression of the breast makes it easier for the |
| denial that they are cancer free are made and that is | | | | doctor to see things more clearly. A Mammogram in |
| because they are too scared that they may actually | | | | the UK consists of two snapshots: one from above |
| detect a lump in the process. Is it not best to find a | | | | and one from the side. This is a precaution method |
| lump the size of pea than that of one which has | | | | to ascertain that nothing is missed. Research opinion |
| developed greater in size? Not all breast lumps are | | | | says taking a 2 view mammogram can increase |
| cancerous, breast abnormalities should be checked | | | | breast screening cancer detection rate by 25% or |
| out sooner than later. "Later is a death sentence". | | | | more. Simple explained means every 100 cancers |
| Some women in their seventies said they don't have | | | | picked up with single view mammograms doubles |
| much road ahead so why the need for a self breast | | | | that to 125 with the double view. |
| examination. Hey blue rinse gals it is very important | | | | Do mammograms cause pain, well uncomfortable is |
| for your grand kids have you stick around longer and | | | | more the word to depict, however this will depend |
| what of your happy birthday 100th telegram off the | | | | on breast size and pain threshold of the patient. A |
| Queen. Breast screening regardless of age saves lives | | | | mammogram will only take a couple of minutes, so |
| (70 years plus). Dutch research of over 860,000 | | | | any discomfort will not have to endured for long, |
| women voiced breast screening decreased the | | | | unlike the pain caused by breast cancer (physical and |
| number of deaths by 30% after the upper age limit | | | | mental). |
| was extended. Cancer risks increase with age so | | | | Once a mammogram test is complete the doctor will |
| they say; medical experts have been at odds over | | | | check for any signs of cancer. Results of the |
| whether the over-70s should be checked. UK plans | | | | mammogram are normally delivered a week or two |
| involve raising the upper age limit for routine | | | | later, sometimes longer. Developed breast cancers will |
| screening from 70 to 73 by 2012. The Netherlands | | | | more times show up clearly on mammograms. |
| extended its programme to cover women up to 75 | | | | However it is not rare for one to go unnoticed |
| in 1998. | | | | because the x-ray showed no sign. Infancy breast |
| Researchers are continuously and tirelessly looking for | | | | cancer may not involve having a lump, patterns yes, |
| answers, e.g. Is breast cancer a hereditary issue or | | | | which on a mammogram may suggest breast cancer. |
| an actual cancer having a specific associated link? | | | | The medical term calcification means tiny regions of |
| (Like Lung cancer in relation to smoking) Overcome | | | | calcium within the breast tissue. Cancer can be |
| your panic thoughts of resistance in finding a lump | | | | detected through the calcium which creates spots |
| and it may well save your life. | | | | and patterns which suggest disease presence. Breast |
| If you are afraid of the unknown as to what is | | | | changes are normal but only your doctor is in the |
| involved with breast screening then there is nothing | | | | position to say these changes are of the |
| to worry over. A mammogram is an X-ray of the | | | | non-cancerous pattern type. |
| breasts. The NHS in the United Kingdom breast | | | | |