Wondering about breast cancer? Need to know what to expect from a mammogram? Want to know how a mammogram is used to help save your life? Read on to find out more. Hopefully this helps you know what to expect.
What Is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer affects the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer. The more common form of breast cancer is one which develops in the lobules where the milk ducts are and are the glands that produce the milk. The less common form develops in the stromal tissue which makes up the more fatty fibrous tissue of the breast.
Breast cancer is caused by a genetic abnormality. However, only about 5-10% of breast cancer is actually hereditary. The majority of the time the genetic abnormality is due to the aging process. Just general wear and tear of life causes the cells to mutate.
You can actually limit your risk of getting breast cancer just by doing a few things to keep yourself healthy. Things like eating right, not smoking, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol consumption. This is not to say you definitely will not get breast cancer if you do these things, though – it just helps limit your risk.
Part of the way you can help in the fight against breast cancer is early detection. Doing monthly self-breast exams is key, but you also want to make sure that you get a mammogram as often as your doctor recommends one. This is usually starting by the age of 40 and going once a year thereafter.
Mammograms are nothing to be afraid of. It’s no worse than any other procedure you have to have done to ensure you’re healthy.
What to Expect out of a Mammogram
To help ease your fears about mammograms, here’s what you can expect when you go for one. This is one of the most important tools doctors have for screening people for breast cancer and helping in determine a diagnosis and treatment plan. So once you’re of age you don’t want to skip this, especially if you’re simply missing it because you’re nervous about the unknown. Here’s what they do:
* You will receive a gown and be asked to remove all jewelry from the waist up as well as clothing from the waist up.
* You will stand in front of a special x-ray machine that has a plate on it.
* The technician will place one of your breasts on the plate and raise or lower the platform to match your height.
* The technician will then have you position your arms, head, and torso in such a way that it will not interfere with the test itself.
* Your breast is then gently pressed down by a large plastic plate.
* You will feel pressure for a few seconds as the breast tissue is spread out to take an image of the breast. This might cause some discomfort, but it’s not harming you. If it becomes too unbearable, tell the technician. However, this is needed in order to flatten out and even the thickness of the breast tissue to get a better image of the breast.
* You’ll need to hold still and hold your breath for a second.
* Then the technician will do the same thing with the second breast.
* You might be asked to wait after it’s all done for the technician to review the images to make sure they are clear. If they are not they might have to repeat the process.
* It usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete the whole process and you are free to resume normal activity once it is complete.
So that doesn’t sound too terrible, does it? It’s only once a year and if it will detect breast cancer early, then it could really be a life saver.
How a Mammogram Is Used to Help Save Your Life
Mammograms have the ability to check the breast for any sign of disease. A lump can be seen on a mammogram before it can even be felt during a self-exam. And since we know early detection saves lives when it comes to cancer, this is a great early detector that saves lives.
While mammograms can’t actually diagnose cancer, they can alert us to problems with the breast which lead to further testing. That might be simply monitoring more closely to see if the calcifications multiply over time. Or it could tell doctors that a biopsy needs to be done. It will show doctors exactly where they need to do the biopsy as well.
So mammograms are very important tools in saving the lives of women (and men) when it comes to breast cancer. Even though a mammogram can’t say for sure whether you have breast cancer, it does alert the doctors to a possible problem which might require more testing or closer monitoring.
Have you scheduled your mammogram yet?
Rewritten Content:
the whole thing You need to know approximately Breast cancer and Mammograms
questioning approximately breast cancer? need to realize what to expect from a mammogram? need to realize how a mammogram is used to help shop your life? read directly to find out greater. with a bit of luck this enables you know what to anticipate.
what’s Breast cancer
Breast cancer affects the tissues of the breast. There are two important styles of breast cancer. The more not unusual form of breast most cancers is one that develops in the lobules in which the milk ducts are and are the glands that produce the milk. The much less common form develops in the stromal tissue which makes up the more fatty fibrous tissue of the breast.
Breast most cancers is caused by a genetic abnormality. however, simplest approximately 5-10% of breast most cancers is truely hereditary. most people of the time the genetic abnormality is because of the aging technique. simply preferred wear and tear of life causes the cells to mutate.
you can virtually restriction your threat of getting breast cancer just by means of doing a few matters to keep yourself healthy. things like ingesting right, not smoking, exercise frequently, and limiting alcohol intake. This isn’t always to say you truely will not get breast most cancers in case you do these items, even though – it simply helps restrict your danger.
part of the manner you could help inside the fight in opposition to breast most cancers is early detection. Doing month-to-month self-breast exams is fundamental, however you furthermore mght want to ensure that you get a mammogram as often as your medical doctor recommends one. this is usually starting through the age of 40 and going once a 12 months thereafter.
Mammograms are nothing to be terrified of. it’s no worse than every other manner you have to have finished to make certain you’re healthy.
what to anticipate out of a Mammogram
To assist ease your fears about mammograms, here’s what you can assume while you cross for one. that is one of the most essential gear doctors have for screening humans for breast most cancers and assisting in decide a diagnosis and remedy plan. So after you’re of age you do not want to bypass this, mainly in case you’re definitely lacking it due to the fact you are nervous approximately the unknown. here’s what they do:
* you will receive a gown and be asked to do away with all rings from the waist up as well as garb from the waist up.
* you’ll stand in front of a special x-ray device that has a plate on it.
* The technician will region considered one of your breasts on the plate and raise or decrease the platform to match your peak.
* The technician will then have you role your fingers, head, and torso in such a way that it will not interfere with the test itself.
* Your breast is then gently pressed down through a huge plastic plate.
* you will sense stress for some seconds because the breast tissue is unfold out to take an picture of the breast. this could cause a few pain, but it is not harming you. If it becomes too unbearable, tell the technician. but, that is wanted so that it will flatten out and even the thickness of the breast tissue to get a better image of the breast.
* you’ll need to keep nonetheless and maintain your breath for a second.
* Then the technician will do the equal thing with the second one breast.
* You is probably requested to attend after it is all completed for the technician to study the images to make sure they’re clear. If they are now not they could must repeat the procedure.
* It usually takes less than half-hour to complete the entire system and you’re unfastened to resume regular activity as soon as it’s far entire.
So that does not sound too horrible, does it? it’s handiest once a 12 months and if it will locate breast cancer early, then it is able to certainly be a lifestyles saver.
How a Mammogram Is Used to assist store Your life
Mammograms have the capability to check the breast for any signal of disease. A lump can be seen on a mammogram before it may also be felt throughout a self-examination. And since we know early detection saves lives in terms of cancer, this is a first rate early detector that saves lives.
while mammograms can not actually diagnose cancer, they could alert us to issues with the breast which result in further testing. That is probably certainly monitoring more intently to look if the calcifications multiply through the years. Or it can inform docs that a biopsy needs to be performed. it will show docs precisely in which they want to do the biopsy as well.
So mammograms are very vital gear in saving the lives of girls (and guys) on the subject of breast cancer. despite the fact that a mammogram can not say for positive whether you have breast cancer, it does alert the docs to a probable trouble which might require extra trying out or nearer tracking.
have you scheduled your mammogram but?
