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Taking
A Closer Look At Mammograms
What
is a mammogram?
Mammography is the process of taking an x-ray picture of the breast;
a mammogram is the x-ray film image itself. Mammography is used
to detect and diagnose breast disease both in women who have breast
symptoms (problems such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge) and
women who are asymptomatic (no breast complaints).
How
does a mammogram work?
The breast is
compressed to spread the tissue apart and to allow a lower dose
of x-ray. Although this may be temporarily uncomfortable, it is
necessary in order to produce a good mammogram. The compression
is only in place a few seconds of the examination and the entire
procedure for screening mammography takes about 20 minutes. Screening
mammography usually involves two views (x-ray pictures) of each
breast, one from the side and one from above. For some patients,
additional pictures may be needed to include as much breast tissue
as possible.
How
often should a women get a mammogram?
Most
women should get a mammogram once a year after age 40. Women with
higher risk for breast cancer should discuss with their physicians
to determine at what age and how often they should seek mammograms.
Do
mammograms expose you to radiation?
Modern film screen technique uses dedicated equipment (a
machine used only for breast x-rays) to produce x-rays that are
high in quality but low in radiation dose, usually about 0.1 to
0.2 rad dose per picture. This x-ray does not penetrate tissue as
easily as the x-ray used for routine chest films or x-rays of the
limbs (arms, legs). To put dose into perspective, a woman who receives
radiation as a treatment for breast cancer will receive several
thousands rads. If a woman had yearly mammograms beginning at age
40 years and continuing until 90, she will have received only 10
rads.
How
is a mammogram read?
The procedure
produces a black and white image of the breast tissue on a large
sheet of film, which is “read” or interpreted by a radiologist.
Radiologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing diseases
by examining images of the inside of the body produced using x-rays,
sound waves, magnetic fields and other methods. Other physicians
involved in treating breast diseases may also review the mammogram.
A mammogram is like a fingerprint; the appearance of the breast
on a mammogram varies tremendously from woman to woman. And, some
breast cancers may produce changes in the mammogram that are subtle
and difficult to recognize. It is extremely helpful for the radiologist
to have films from previous examinations available (not just the
report) for comparison purposes. This will help the doctor to recognize
small changes and detect a cancer as early as possible. Learn more
about mammograms, including 8 things to expect when you get a mammogram
from the American Cancer Society.
If
You Need A Mammogram…
Mammogram costs,
or a percentage of them, are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and
most private health plans. Check your plan’s benefits. If you do
not have medical coverage, or have insufficient coverage:
- Contact
your state or county health department (found in the blue pages
of your phone book) for information about free and low-cost screening
programs that provide mammograms.
- Contact
the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345, or visit their
website to learn about other
free and low-cost screenings that might be available in your community.
If
You Are Already Getting Regular Mammograms…
Reading mammograms is difficult because of the wide range of
what is considered normal. New technology is making it easier to
read mammogram x-rays. A new computer aided analysis of mammograms,
called CloserLook, is now available through participating
mammography centers throughout the United States and via the Internet.
Computer aided analysis (CAD) technology is becoming widely recognized
in the medical community as an effective means of identifying subtle
abnormalities that the naked eye might miss. CloserLook service
uses FDA-approved CAD technology to identify and mark “regions of
interest” on routine screening mammograms, directing the radiologist’s
attention to areas that could represent early cancers.
CloserLook performs approximately 4 billion calculations on each
mammogram, acting as a second pair of “eyes” to help your radiologist
detect early signs of breast cancer. SPECIAL OFFER FOR NEA MEMBERS:
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NEA Health Information Network