A MAMMOGRAM is an effective tool in detection of breast cancer, in both women and men, at an early stage where treatment is most likely to be successful. MAMMOGRAMS help detect breast cancer long before any physical symptoms appear. This test allows detecting cancer cells even if lumps are not present. As a detection tool for breast cancer, MAMMOGREM is a valuable tool in screening for breast cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

The benefits of MAMMOGRAM is inconclusive for women age 39 and under, but once you turn 40, you should schedule ONE EVERY YEAR. However if you have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, or you have had radiation treatment in the past, you may need MAMMOGRAMS at a younger age. You should regularly check your own breasts for changes. MAMMOGRANS should be accompanied by a clinical breast exam. Early detection reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer by 25-30 percent. Majority of women who die from breast cancer were not undergoing yearly screening MAMMOGRAM.

A  MAMMOGRAM won’t take up your whole day. The entire process will probably take 30 minutes. If your doctor uses advanced DIGITAL X-RAY technology, you can view the results right away. Even though you are exposed to radiation during the test, the amount is minimal. The potential benefits of early detection outweigh the negatives of minimal radiation exposure. The amount of radiation received from an annual MAMMOGRAM is similar to the amount of nature background radiation a woman receives in two months. Previous generation MAMMOGRAPHY machines used films to capture images. New generation machines capture the images digitally and the data is transferred to a computer. Digital images offer the advantages of being able to zoom in to the area of concern. The doctor can zoom in on the digital images to check suspicious areas or adjust the brightness and contrast if the images for better view. It is also easy to transmit the images via e-mail incase the patient needs a second opinion from other doctors.

Unfortunately, this test is not perfect. There is a possibility that the test may miss (FALSE NEGATIVE  RESULTS) the early detection of breast cancer in some women. Depending on various factors like age of woman, density of the breasts, the chances of false negative results could be anywhere between 16% and 30%. False negative results can delay treatment and give false reassurance. To rule out a false negative result ULTRASOUND SCANNING is used by doctors. At DR.JOLLY DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE we offer you a combined package of MAMMOGRAM and ULTRASOUND screening of breasts to give you a more reliable and comprehensive report. There is also a very high possibility of a false alarm(FALSE POSITIVE RESULTS). The test may reveal a suspicious growth which may look like cancer and after an ultrasound examination it is revealed as being non-cancerous (benign).

While we often think of a MAMMOGRAM as a purely female experience, there are several reasons a man may need to have a breast imaging. And yes, it is the same MAMMOGRAM procedure, that a woman undergoes. Male breast cancer is rare, screening for breast cancer with a yearly MAMMOGRAM is not done. There are a few common symptoms that cause men to come in for MAMMOGRAMS, and we would like to address those.

Gynecomestia is a benign swelling of breast tissue in men. It can cause tenderness and or lumps. It is actually quite common in very young and the very old, though pre-teens and adult men can also develop gynecomestia, while it is not something anyone wants to have, it is a non-cancerous condition and may go away without any treatment. There are several causes, including side effects to medications or hormonal imbalances such as decreases in testosterone. Any persistent lump, swelling or change in a male breast should prompt a visit to a physician, just as such changes would be handled in a woman. Lumps may be from breast tissue, prominent fat or fatty tissue, benign growths such as lipomes or lymph nodes, rarely seen in men from cysts, and breast cancer.

Imaging of the male breast may start with a MAMMOGRAM and BREAST ULTRASOUND. Our MAMMOGRAPHY technicians are accustomed and comfortable imaging women and men, so don’t delay getting the care you need. We are only a click or a call away.

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