|
Mammography
is a safe and effective X-ray of the breast, which can aid in diagnosing
breast diseases by detecting abnormalities in breast tissue long
before they can be felt through a standard physical examination.
With the use of mammography, breast cancer can be detected at an
early stage.
The mammogram gives radiologists a clear, in-depth image of breast
tissue to detect lumps or other abnormalities.
Did You Know?
According the The American
Cancer Society, one out of nine American women will develop
breast cancer in her
lifetime.
Breast
cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women ages 35 to
45.
When
breast cancer is detected at an early stage, the survival rate is
very high.
Because
of these facts, The American
Cancer Society recommends women get their first baseline
mammogram at age 40. Depending on your risk factors, it is recommended
you have a mammogram every 1 or 2 years from age 40-50 and then
once every year after that.
You'll be asked to undress from the waist up, so you might want
to wear a loose blouse or sweater rather than a dress. You will
be provided a gown to wear during your procedure. Avoid using deodorant,
powder, ointments, creams or perfume on your underarm or breast
area. And be sure to tell your doctor or technologist if you are
pregnant or think you might be.
The mammographer will begin by asking you a series of questions,
pertaining to your reproductive history, current symptoms if any,
family history and so on. To insure that all the internal breast
tissue is visualized, two x-rays from different angles will be done
for each breast. It is important that the breast tissue be compressed
for all of these views. Your breast will be placed against the x-ray
plate, positioned by the mammographer, then firmly compressed with
a plastic paddle. The compression may be slightly uncomfortable,
but should not be painful. The compression is necessary to spread
the breast tissue out in order to better visualize the internal
structures and to reduce the amount of radiation needed. After the
x-rays have been taken, they will be checked for quality and positioning.
An
experienced board certified radiologist at Central Georgia Diagnostics
will read the tests and promptly send the report to your doctor.
approximately 20-25 minutes
As always, please let your doctor or the mammographer know of
any concerns or questions you may have prior to this exam. It is
our goal to ensure you have an accurate and comfortable exam.
|
