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 | Article category: Health Insurance
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Health InsuranceMammograms Are No Joke - They Can Save Lives
by:
Lynn Roodbol
Copyright 2005 Cancer Keep Coach
There are so many a jokes just about mammograms! Have you detected
the one just about the icebox door …or the bookends …or the garage floor? Thanks to all the jokes, “Mammogram” has become a home word, and it’s not that I don’t have a sense of humor, but as a diagnostic technique
technologist, I’ve detected
the jokes many a times. I think the jokes are embarrassing for women and humiliating with regard to their physical bodies. Many a 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 x ray for me and he refused several times language I was too young. There were no screening diagnostic technique
centers to which I could refer myself, so that was that. In Gregorian calendar month
of 1986 at the age of 42 I felt a lump in my breast and had a x ray the same day. It turned out to be Stage II breast cancer with 4 positive bodily fluid nodes. I had a lumpectomy, a cutting out and therapy
but chose not to have radiation. I apparently wasn’t too young to have cancer.
In May 1985 a x ray cost less than $60.00 and would-be have resulted in my having minor surgery to deal with a small lump. Delaying the designation until Gregorian calendar month
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 designation of cancer affects the family, friends and community of the person with the disease. A timely x ray would-be have saved us all a lot of grief.
The common perception is that having a x ray is a negative experience; I think this is a bad rap. Mammograms are quick and easy breast X-Rays; which commonly 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 as well to do the experience as quick and painless as possible.
When folk go for a x ray 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 quiet your muscles you wish be more much comfortable through the test than if you are tense. An additional 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 musculus pectoralis 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 x ray because they don’t want anyone different than their partner to see and touch their breasts. The x ray jokes add to their fear of pain and embarrassment fashioning it harder for them to manage, and I cognize of several women who avoid having a x ray for this reason. The test is done in privacy; no one but a female applied scientist wish be present. Technologists, for the most part, are sensitive folk who wish do the test as quickly and professionally as they can. Many a women who have resisted the test for a long time are astonished 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, agent 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 as well if nice quality control is maintained at the x ray facility.
In the U.S.A. the cost of a x ray runs between $50 and $150.00. There is business help accessible from insurance companies, state and local programs, and from several employers. Please do not let the cost deter you from having a x ray as the cost of not having a x ray 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 technique
is accessible with a doctor’s referral and is covered by health insurance. Around 7% of women wish be asked to have further testing. Most of the time, follow up testing involves an additional x ray 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 different and separating them out in a several way in order to see them better.
There is arguing just about the age bracket for women to have a mammogram. On a x ray film, normal breast tissue in young women commonly appears to be dense; normal breast tissue in older women commonly 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 technique
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 x ray does not even as move close to that of being diagnosed with an advanced cancer. A x ray takes just about 10 minutes; an early cancer can be dealt with in a reasonable figure of time, patch an advanced cancer is more much of a time commitment. The figure of fear that comes with a cancer designation is astronomical compared to that of a screening mammogram.
It is often advisable
that women have a screening x ray every two years, but many a 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 x ray 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 x ray 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 communicating by a doctor or trained health professional
• screening x ray
• monthly breast self exam
Breast self-exam can be a contentious issue. Many a folk do not recommend monthly self-exams, yet many a 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 discharge 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 careful 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 many a 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 work
lumps and different 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 as well 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 x ray 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 technique
applied scientist in Guelph Ontario. Lynn is as well a life coach for cancer patients to help them shorten the learning curve and navigate their journey with cancer.
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