| Cancer screening | | | | very small and is strictly controlled by regulatory |
| The term screening is commonly used for a test that | | | | agencies like National Department of Health and |
| is used for evaluation of a person for possible | | | | Human Services. Very strict regulations are enforced |
| disease without the person ever having any | | | | by this agency to make sure that mammography |
| symptoms or signs of the disease. Screening tests | | | | equipment is safe and uses the lowest dose of |
| are usually undertaken in a target population, which | | | | radiation possible. The dose of radiation used by the |
| has significantly high risk of developing the disease. | | | | modern mammogram machines does not significantly |
| Mammogram is a screening technique used for breast | | | | increase the risk of breast cancer. |
| cancer, and the target population for mammogram is | | | | Digital mammography |
| women who are aged 40 and above. PSA testing is a | | | | Digital mammograms are similar to conventional X-ray |
| screening test for prostate cancer and the target | | | | film mammograms except that the pictures are |
| population is men over 50 years of age. | | | | produced in the digital media in a computer. Digital |
| Screening tests cannot be employed in all diseases. In | | | | pictures have the advantages of manipulation of light |
| some cases a useful screening test may not be | | | | and contrast and hence would be more useful for |
| available, and in some other cases it may not be | | | | the studying the mammography picture. It was |
| worth screening for a disease because screening and | | | | claimed in the past that digital mammogram is |
| finding out the disease early may not change the | | | | superior to conventional mammograms in terms of |
| natural history of disease. The later is probably true in | | | | accuracy, however a recent study has shown that |
| case of screening of lung cancer. From the studies so | | | | digital mammography no better than regular |
| far published, there is no clear evidence to suggest | | | | mammography. |
| that screening for lung cancer in high-risk population | | | | Computer Aided Detection (CAD) |
| (smokers) would improve survival. | | | | CAD is sophisticated computer program that can |
| Breast cancer screening | | | | compare areas of the digital mammography picture |
| Unlike lung cancer, breast cancer can be screened | | | | and aid the physician to more easily detect breast |
| using available techniques with beneficial results. | | | | cancer. Studies have shown that CAD system |
| Mammogram is the only accepted screening test for | | | | improved diagnostic accuracy by about 20 percent. |
| breast cancer. Mammogram till this date may have | | | | Clinical breast examination and self breast examination |
| saved lives of thousands of women, by detecting | | | | An article on breast cancer screening will not be |
| the disease at a very early stage, when it is mostly | | | | complete without mentioning clinical breast |
| curable. Screening for mammogram does not prevent | | | | examination and (CBE) and self breast examination |
| the occurrence of breast cancer, but instead it | | | | (SBE). CBE and SBE are useful adjuvant to |
| provides a very simple and useful technique to | | | | mammogram for detection of breast cancer. It is also |
| detect breast cancer at a very early stage. | | | | to be mentioned that about 10 percent of all tumors |
| Mammogram is capable of detecting breast cancer at | | | | that can be felt by the physicians may not be seen |
| a stage prior to infiltration of the tumor to the | | | | in a mammogram, hence if the physician feels a |
| surrounding structures, called stage 0 breast cancer | | | | tumor, the absence of abnormality in the |
| or carcinoma in situ. | | | | mammogram does not ensure absence of a breast |
| Recommendations for breast cancer screening vary | | | | tumor. Such patients should be evaluated by biopsy. |
| from country to country and within the same | | | | Self-breast examination as the name implies denotes |
| country according to the views of different | | | | examination of breast by women, without the help |
| organizations who recommend the screening. | | | | of a physician. This can be undertaken in the privacy |
| American Cancer Society recommends that "women | | | | of their home. Probably the best time to do a |
| age 40 and older should have a screening | | | | self-breast examination is while taking showers. |
| mammogram every year and should continue to do | | | | Women can ask their physicians to teach them the |
| so for as long as they are in good health." | | | | technique of self-breast examination. American |
| What is a mammogram? | | | | Cancer Society recommends "women in 20s and 30s |
| Mammogram is just an X-ray photograph of your | | | | should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as part |
| breast, and works in principle the same way as your | | | | of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health |
| chest X-ray. The breast tissue is compressed | | | | professional preferably every 3 years. After age 40, |
| between two plates and an X-ray picture is taken. | | | | women should have a breast exam by a health |
| Doctors would look at the X-ray and determine if | | | | professional every year." Regarding self-breast |
| there are any abnormalities in the picture. Breast | | | | examination, American Cancer Society gives the |
| cancer usually appears in the form of calcifications, | | | | following recommendations: |
| architectural distortions, or abnormal densities. | | | | "BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. |
| Since mammogram uses X-rays, there may be slight | | | | Women should be told about the benefits and |
| risk associated with exposure to radiation in women | | | | limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast |
| who get mammograms. However the amount of | | | | changes to their health professional right away. |
| radiation associated with mammogram examination is | | | | |