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Are mammograms necessary?

Mammograms? Breast Self Exams? I never feel anything? What am I looking for? These are some of the questions asked of me by women when they come in for their annual well woman exams. I advise women to schedule their annual screening exams during their birth month. This makes it easy to remember when to get their exams done. It’s really easy to forget when the last exam was and to procrastinate for a few years!

According to most insurance guidelines, mammograms are to be performed annually beginning at 40 years of age. It is not the most comfortable examination and is only an annual exam. Some women have very “dense” breasts which makes it difficult to detect growths deep in the breast tissue. There has been some controversy over the damage that may occur with the pressure of the imaging equipment. However at this time, it is still considered the best imaging available and is the standard of care.

Recently ultrasound imaging of the breasts to detect abnormalities is becoming a desired and much requested exam. The data to support the accuracy of this method is still being gathered. Another test that is becoming recognized as an early detection method is thermal imaging although the data accumulated is small in comparison to the usual mammogram. Keep watching for these alternative imaging options in the future as the evidence will continue to grow for the accuracy of these exams to predict cancer.

Still, one of the greatest detection exams is by far the Breast Self Exam (BSE). The majority of breast cancers are detected by women performing monthly BSE the week after their menstrual period. Some of the things to look for is the lack of movement in the breast tissue, hard seeds or lumps, breast pain, skin that looks puckered or like the skin of an orange. The upper outer quadrant of the breast which includes the underarm area is the location where most cancers occur. This has been linked in some studies to the decrease in circulation or decrease in sweating. Again, the suppression of natural body functions does not always benefit you.

Interesting enough, I find that most women are really afraid to perform annual exams because we might find something. Ironically, early detection of disease is much better than finding out when it is too late. Prevention is so much easier than the treatment of disease! Currently there are many choices and options available if you do find something suspicious. Advances in the study of breast cancers has increased with all attention breast cancer has aroused in the public. If you are concerned about your breast health or want to know of some natural products or foods that are available as deodorants, please schedule a short visit with Dr. Rodriguez to learn more. Visit her website at www.mynaturaldoc.com or email dr.yo@wellnesslivingcenter.com.