Mammogram and Breast Cancer Screening

Home
>
Breast Cancer
>
Mammogram and Breast Cancer Screening

Mammogram and Breast Cancer Screening

Cancer screening
The term screening is commonly used for a test that is used for evaluation of a person for possible disease without the person ever having any symptoms or signs of the disease. Screening tests are usually undertaken in a target population, which has significantly high risk of developing the disease. Mammogram is a screening technique used for breast cancer, and the target population for mammogram is women who are aged 40 and above. PSA testing is a screening test for prostate cancer and the target population is men over 50 years of age. Screening tests cannot be employed in all diseases. In some cases a useful screening test may not be available, and in some other cases it may not be worth screening for a disease because screening and finding out the disease early may not change the natural history of disease. The later is probably true in case of screening of lung cancer. From the studies so far published, there is no clear evidence to suggest that screening for lung cancer in high-risk population (smokers) would improve survival.

Breast cancer screening
Unlike lung cancer, breast cancer can be screened using available techniques with beneficial results. Mammogram is the only accepted screening test for breast cancer. Mammogram till this date may have saved lives of thousands of women, by detecting the disease at a very early stage, when it is mostly curable. Screening for mammogram does not prevent the occurrence of breast cancer, but instead it provides a very simple and useful technique to detect breast cancer at a very early stage. Mammogram is capable of detecting breast cancer at a stage prior to infiltration of the tumor to the surrounding structures, called stage 0 breast cancer or carcinoma in situ. Recommendations for breast cancer screening vary from country to country and within the same country according to the views of different organizations who recommend the screening. American Cancer Society recommends that "women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health."

What is a mammogram?
Mammogram is just an X-ray photograph of your breast, and works in principle the same way as your chest X-ray. The breast tissue is compressed between two plates and an X-ray picture is taken. Doctors would look at the X-ray and determine if there are any abnormalities in the picture. Breast cancer usually appears in the form of calcifications, architectural distortions, or abnormal densities. Since mammogram uses X-rays, there may be slight risk associated with exposure to radiation in women who get mammograms. However the amount of radiation associated with mammogram examination is very small and is strictly controlled by regulatory agencies like National Department of Health and Human Services. Very strict regulations are enforced by this agency to make sure that mammography equipment is safe and uses the lowest dose of radiation possible. The dose of radiation used by the modern mammogram machines does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer.

Digital mammography
Digital mammograms are similar to conventional X-ray film mammograms except that the pictures are produced in the digital media in a computer. Digital pictures have the advantages of manipulation of light and contrast and hence would be more useful for the studying the mammography picture. It was claimed in the past that digital mammogram is superior to conventional mammograms in terms of accuracy, however a recent study has shown that digital mammography no better than regular mammography.

Computer Aided Detection (CAD)
CAD is sophisticated computer program that can compare areas of the digital mammography picture and aid the physician to more easily detect breast cancer. Studies have shown that CAD system improved diagnostic accuracy by about 20 percent.

Clinical breast examination and self breast examination
An article on breast cancer screening will not be complete without mentioning clinical breast examination and (CBE) and self breast examination (SBE). CBE and SBE are useful adjuvant to mammogram for detection of breast cancer. It is also to be mentioned that about 10 percent of all tumors that can be felt by the physicians may not be seen in a mammogram, hence if the physician feels a tumor, the absence of abnormality in the mammogram does not ensure absence of a breast tumor. Such patients should be evaluated by biopsy.

Self-breast examination as the name implies denotes examination of breast by women, without the help of a physician. This can be undertaken in the privacy of their home. Probably the best time to do a self-breast examination is while taking showers. Women can ask their physicians to teach them the technique of self-breast examination. American Cancer Society recommends "women in 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year." Regarding self-breast examination, American Cancer Society gives the following recommendations: "BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away."

The author is the webmaster for http://medicineworld.org which features many useful articles and news items related to cancer. You can find more information on breast cancer, breast cancer news, and breast cancer treatment in author's breast cancer page of the website.

In The News:

Medical Tactile, Inc. Announces a 3G-Wireless System for Breast Cancer Screening
MarketWatch (press release)
According to a publication funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 1.6 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and 425000 women died from the disease. Although early detection is the best means to a good prognosis for breast ...

and more »

Al-Arabiya
Rusty Link: The Lackluster Science Behind the Abortion–Breast Cancer Connection
Slate Magazine
Now, providers there must inform pregnant women about “the possibility of increased risk of breast cancer following an induced abortion,” the so-called ABC link. In the decade following Roe v. Wade, the occurrence of breast tumors in the United States ...
Saudi women take fight against breast cancer to Mount EverestAl-Arabiya
Breast cancer advocacy organizations target the under 45 patientThe Imperfect Parent
A woman's journey: destination Mount EverestPakistan Daily Times
New Zealand Herald -The Voice of Russia -HealthTechZone
all 12 news articles »

Jagran Post
Moderate Weight Loss Can Decrease Breast Cancer Risk
ABC News
Could moderate weight loss lower your chance of developing breast cancer? Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center think it's possible. The connection between obesity and breast cancer risk in women after menopause has long been ...
Dropping a Few Pounds Could Lower Breast Cancer RiskTIME
Small weight loss effectively reduces sex hormones linked with breast cancerFox News
Dieting May Lower Hormone Levels Tied to Breast CancerU.S. News & World Report
Jagran Post -Globe and Mail -Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 54 news articles »

ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
Questions about Valley breast cancer charity, where donation money is really used
ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
When Pat Elliot of Phoenix received what she called an "aggressive" call from a telemarketer representing The Breast Cancer Society, Inc., she was concerned. “It does not appear that patients with breast cancer are being served,” she said.

and more »

Firstpost
New breast cancer test to predict return of tumour post surgery
Daily News & Analysis
A breast cancer test that could spare thousands of women the ordeal of chemotherapy could be available in the UK this year. The test costs just £120 a time and can accurately predict whether a tumour is likely to return after it has been surgically ...
Now, a breast cancer test to predict if tumour will recurBusiness Standard
Find out cheap if breast cancer tumour will returnFirstpost

all 10 news articles »

Galena Biopharma's Breast Cancer Vaccine Sprouts More Red Flags
TheStreet.com
By Adam Feuerstein 05/22/12 - 02:23 PM EDT LAKE OSWEGO, Oregon (TheStreet) -- More red flags have been found staked into Galena Biopharma's(GALE) breast cancer vaccine NeuVax. Updated, 60-month follow-up results from a Neuvax phase II study scheduled ...
Galena Biopharma With Near Term ASCO CatalystSeeking Alpha

all 2 news articles »

Breast cancer clinical trial tests combo of heat shock protein inhibitor and ...
Medical Xpress
Researchers have theorized that inhibiting HSP90 just might render breast cancer cells less likely to escape the challenge posed by cutting off their ability to use estrogen. Such is the rationale for a new clinical trial that has begun enrolling ...

and more »

Breast MRI helps predict chemotherapy's effectiveness
Medical Xpress
Women with breast cancer often undergo chemotherapy prior to surgery. Research has shown that women who receive this treatment, known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, are more likely to achieve breast conservation than those receiving chemotherapy after ...
Breast MRI and Chemo EffectivenessIvanhoe

all 5 news articles »

Keeping breast cancer at bay: Doctors from China train at CentraState
News Transcript
PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTRASTATE MEDICAL CENTER Seven physicians from China traveled to New Jersey recently to learn about the latest imaging and interventional techniques to diagnose breast cancer as early as possible. From April 30 to May 5, ...

Sydney Morning Herald
Benefits of Hormone-Replacement Therapy Outweigh Risks, Reviews of Studies Show
Wall Street Journal (blog)
Much of that big government study was halted in July 2002 after data suggested that women taking estrogen-and-progestin replacement had a higher rate of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer than those on a placebo. Millions of women and their ...
Doctors rethink hormone therapySydney Morning Herald
Call for 'rational use' of hormone therapy near menopauseNew Zealand Herald
The rollercoaster ride of menopauseFond du Lac Reporter
WebMD.Boots.com -Telegraph.co.uk
all 191 news articles »

Google News