Essay On Screening Mammography

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MAMMOGRAPHY do I need it ? • Screening mammograms are x-ray exams of the breasts that are used for women who have no breast symptoms or signs of breast cancer (such as a previous abnormal mammogram). The goal of a screening mammogram is to find breast cancer when it’s too small to be felt by a woman or her doctor. Finding breast cancers early (before they have grown and spread) greatly improves a woman’s chance for successful treatment. • A screening mammogram usually takes 2 x-ray pictures (views) of each breast. Some women, such as those with large breasts, may need to have more pictures to see as much breast tissue as possible. • A woman with a breast problem (for instance, a lump or nipple discharge) or an abnormal area found in a screening…show more content…
When this happens it’s common to ask the woman to return to be re-checked, usually in 4 to 6 months. The results could also suggest that a biopsy is needed to find out if the abnormal area is cancer. If your doctor recommends a biopsy, it does not mean that you have cancer. • “The Society believes existing evidence shows that the benefits of screening mammography every year beginning at age 40 outweigh the risks and harms, which are an unavoidable part of breast cancer screening. The Society also recommends that women have careful and thorough discussions with a health care professional as they consider screening, including the benefits, limitations, and potential for adverse events such as false positive findings and the possibility of over-treatment. • While the rate of over-diagnosis is unsettled, we do have a number of clinical studies that consistently show that appropriate treatment of early-stage breast cancer saves lives. Observation, what in prostate cancer has been termed ‘watchful waiting,’ is not appropriate for breast cancer. A woman who is diagnosed with breast cancer should always receive

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