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Cancer InformationMammograms Are No Joke - They Can Save Lives
by:
Lynn Roodbol
Copyright 2005 Cancer Keep Coach
There are so galore jokes just about mammograms! Have you detected
the one just about the electric refrigerator door …or the bookends …or the garage floor? Thanks to all the jokes, “Mammogram” has become a family word, and it’s not that I don’t have a sense of humor, but as a diagnostic procedure technologist, I’ve detected
the jokes galore times. I think the jokes are embarrassing for women and humbling with regard to their physical bodies. Galore women say, “If men had to do this, there would-be be a better solution” - this may or may not be true. Most folk agree that mammograms are not perfect, but until there is a better solution, I think it’s time to look at mammograms in a several light.
In May of 1985 and 1986 I asked my doctor to order a roentgenogram for me and he refused several times expression I was too young. There were no screening diagnostic procedure centers to which I could refer myself, so that was that. In Dec of 1986 at the age of 42 I felt a lump in my breast and had a roentgenogram the same day. It turned out to be Stage II breast cancer with 4 positive liquid body substance nodes. I had a lumpectomy, a ablation and therapy
but chose not to have radiation. I evidently wasn’t too young to have cancer.
In May 1985 a roentgenogram cost less than $60.00 and would-be have resulted in my having minor surgery to deal with a small lump. Delaying the diagnosing until Dec 1986 raised the cost of the medical care I received several in dollars and the figure of human suffering we faced. I say “we” because a diagnosing of cancer affects the family, friends and community of the person with the disease. A timely roentgenogram would-be have saved us all a lot of grief.
The common perception is that having a roentgenogram is a negative experience; I think this is a bad rap. Mammograms are quick and easy breast X-Rays; which normally means two views of each breast – one from the top and one from the side. They are performed by friendly, knowledgeable technologists who do their better to help women feel at ease. The technologists’ goal is to get the better films possible and besides to do the experience as quick and painless as possible.
When folk go for a roentgenogram the most important thing to cognize is that relaxation of the upper body is the key to a positive experience. I cognize it’s hard to relax once
you’re apprehensive, but this is why I believe we need to lessen the public apprehension of this test. It is easy to relax by taking several deep breaths before you have the test. By restful your muscles you wish be more much comfortable through the test than if you are tense. An accessorial bonus is that the films wish be of higher quality, as it is easier to images the back of the breast close to the chest wall if the pectoral muscles are relaxed. Once
it’s done, you may hear yourself saying, “That wasn’t bad at all!”
Some women are embarrassed to have a roentgenogram because they don’t want anyone another than their partner to see and touch their breasts. The roentgenogram jokes add to their fear of pain and embarrassment devising it harder for them to manage, and I cognize of several women who avoid having a roentgenogram for this reason. The test is done in privacy; no one but a female engineer wish be present. Technologists, for the most part, are sensitive folk who wish do the test as quickly and professionally as they can. Galore women who have resisted the test for a long time are astonied at how simple and painless it can be.
Mammograms include compression of the breast with a plastic plate to produce a high quality images with the least figure of radiation. Breast compression is meant to be tight, but it should not be painful and it only lasts for a few seconds. If you think just about looking at a bunch of grapes – it’s hard to see them all from one spot. If you spread the grapes out, you can see more grapes. Likewise
with the use of compression, more breast tissue is visible once
the breast is spread out. With a flatter, dilutant layer of tissue the figure of radiation required is less than if the breast is not compressed. The figure of radiation you get is as low as can be achieved if adequate compression is used, and besides if nice quality control is maintained at the roentgenogram facility.
In the U.S.A. the cost of a roentgenogram runs between $50 and $150.00. There is fiscal help accessible from insurance companies, state and local programs, and from several employers. Please do not let the cost deter you from having a roentgenogram as the cost of not having a roentgenogram can be more higher several financially and emotionally. Check for information on the internet.
In most places in Canada, women can book their own appointment for a free screening mammogram; a doctor’s referral is not required. In places without a screening program, diagnostic procedure is accessible with a doctor’s referral and is covered by health insurance. About 7% of women wish be asked to have further testing. Most of the time, follow up testing involves an additional roentgenogram with a several view to separate the breast tissue in a particular area to get a better image. In my analogy of the bunch of grapes, it’s like having a few grapes on top of each another and separating them out in a several way in order to see them better.
There is contention just about the age bracket for women to have a mammogram. On a roentgenogram film, normal breast tissue in young women normally appears to be dense; normal breast tissue in older women normally turns to fat and appears less dense. Reading mammograms on young women is like looking through a tree which is full of leaves in summer. Reading mammograms on older women can be compared to looking through a tree in winter. You can see why reading mammograms on young women is more complex than reading films on older women and this is the main reason why screening diagnostic procedure is more effective as women mature.
The fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer wish often prevent a woman from having a mammogram. My personal experience is that it is more better to be diagnosed earlier rather than once
the cancer has had chance to spread. The figure of fear, pain, embarrassment, and emotional anguish from having a roentgenogram does not even as move close to that of being diagnosed with an advanced cancer. A roentgenogram takes just about 10 minutes; an early cancer can be dealt with in a reasonable figure of time, piece an advanced cancer is more much of a time commitment. The figure of fear that comes with a cancer diagnosing is astronomical compared to that of a screening mammogram.
It is often suggested that women have a screening roentgenogram every two years, but galore folk believe it is better to have mammograms on an annual basis. It is probably better if women can consult their doctors and do the decision on an individual basis. A number of factors affect the decision such as age, family history, general health, and previous breast problems. Between appointments, whether you choose to have a roentgenogram every year or every two years, it is important to be aware of any breast problems. If you notice thing
unusual it is wise to contact your doctor. This applies even as if your roentgenogram was negative because there are a certain percentage of cancers that do not show on a mammogram.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation promotes a three-prong approach to breast health:
• annual clinical breast examination by a doctor or trained health professional
• screening roentgenogram
• monthly breast self exam
Breast self-exam can be a arguable issue. Galore folk do not recommend monthly self-exams, yet galore women have found their own breast cancers this way. The important thing to remember is if you choose to do self exam, to do it right:
• discover the proper know-how
from a doctor or trained health professional
• be disciplined and practice it regularly
• pick the same time of your catamenial cycle or the same date each month
• get to cognize your normal breast “architecture”
• do notes of your findings, draw images and record dates
• do elaborate notes of unusual findings including dates
• check with your doctor if you find thing
worrisome
Following these steps wish give you confidence and put you in charge of your breast health. Several health professionals are concerned that women wish be unnecessarily afraid
if they find a problem with their breasts. I believe that an educated approach to breast care wish reduce the fear that galore women live with, and they can consult their doctors in a more rational manner. Most breast lumps are benign, but early detection of breast cancer is worth the extra cost of investigation lumps and another unusual findings.
Mammography is a peculiar test in several ways. However, it is the gold standard at present and until there is a better know-how
of screening which is besides cost effective it does nice sense to have regular mammograms. Finding cancer in the early stages before it has a chance to spread does the treatment more easier and the cure rate more higher. Having a roentgenogram is not meant to be funny, or even as fun; but a few minutes of discomfort rewards us with knowing we are taking action to help protect our breast health.
Just just about the author:
http://www.cancersupportcoach.com
Lynnwas diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 1986 and colon and skin cancer in 1987. She has been involved in the cancer community since then as a peer counselor, keep group facilitator, fundraiser and retreat organizer. She works as a diagnostic procedure engineer in Guelph Ontario. Lynn is besides a life coach for cancer patients to help them shorten the learning curve and navigate their journey with cancer.
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