What You Should Know About Mammography San Diego CA

By Jaclyn Hurley


Mammography is a procedure performed by a radiological technologist to detect breast cancer. It produces a soft tissue X ray or mammogram of the breast, which allows a physician to see tumors that cannot be detected though physical examination. A mammogram also reveals the presence of any other tumor in the breast and helps healthcare providers determine if it is cancerous or not. By taking advantage of mammography San Diego CA residents can defend themselves against breast cancer because this procedure detects it in its early stages.

Research studies show that women who have breast cancer are more likely to survive if it is detected in its early stage. Cure rates of up to ninety percent have been reported in patients who have minimal tumors. Before undergoing the procedure patients should inform their physicians if they are expectant or planning to conceive. They should also avoid applying lotion, cream, body powder or deodorant on their chests on the day when the test will be performed to ensure accuracy.

Patients are asked to remove the clothes they are wearing above their waist and they are provided with a hospital gown before undergoing a mammogram. They are also asked to remove any jewelry. Wearing two piece garments on the day of the test is wise. When performing the procedure, radiologic technologists ask patients to maintain an upright position in front of an X ray machine and then place the breasts on a breast support table.

The technician will then flatten your breasts gently by pressing together the two radiographic breast supports. When the breasts are compressed, technicians are able to obtain a very clear picture with a low amount of radiation being used. You may experience some discomfort because of this pressure but it will only last for a short duration.

Your breasts will be imaged in various positions so that a radiologist can clearly observe all the tissues. After the procedure is over, your physician will be provided with the results and he or she will let you know what they mean and whether you need to be tested further. Patients who undergo this procedure are normally sent their results by mail within thirty days.

According to research completed by the American Cancer Society, about one or two patients out the one thousand patients who get mammograms are found to have breast cancer. On average, ten percent of these patients are asked to get further tests. Only eight to ten percent of women who have gotten a mammogram are asked to get a biopsy and only twenty percent of biopsies show the presence of cancerous cells in breasts.

Most companies that offer wellness insurance spend for diagnostic mammograms every 1 or 2 years for women who have attained the age of 40. Using mammography to check for breast cancer is controversial. This is due to fearing that this procedure exposes patients to high levels of radiation that can increase the risk of getting breast cancer.

Women should not be afraid of getting a mammogram because new X ray machines do not expose patients to high radiation levels. Older machines exposed patients to as much as 10 rads of radiation. This is hazardous particularly if a patient undergoes the procedure regularly over ten or more years. Modern X ray machines expose patients to lower than 1 rad of radiation.




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