breast cancer

Detecting breast cancer as early as possible is essential to breast care and to ensure that survival isn't a matter of luck but a matter of science. The best way to detect breast cancer is with a mammography and digital mammography is the most accurate method available today. The main reason for this is because computers aid in the diagnostic phase and are able to detect cancers much sooner than other methods and years before they can be felt as a lump.

The general rule of thumb is that you should have mammograms each year once you turn 40. They also state that a baseline mammogram should be taken when you're around thirty-five as this will be the one all other mammograms are compared to. Having all mammograms digital will make for the most accurate baseline as well as comparisons as well. Even though these guidelines have been suggested for years, you have to do things differently if you're in a high-risk category.

If there is a history of breast cancer in your family, especially if someone in your immediate family such as your mother, grandmother or sister has had breast cancer this places you in a high risk group. If you don't know your family history, for instance if you lost your mother at a young age, the best way is to assume you're in a high-risk group which changes the guidelines significantly. Instead of having a baseline digital mammogram when you're thirty-five, have one when you're thirty instead. To be on the safe side, you'll want to start having your yearly mammograms when you reach 35 as those in the high-risk category have higher chances of developing breast cancer much younger as well.

An added suggestion for those in high risk groups is to have a mammogram done twice a year after age forty as well. With digital mammography and a good baseline to compare with, any changes noticed by the technologist can be examined sooner and a core biopsy with a breast MRI can be done immediately to see if the change is benign or malignant. Catching things early enables doctors to cut out the problem area without having to resort to more drastic measures such as a mastectomy.

Since there is currently no way to vaccinate against breast cancer, detecting it early is the best way to survive it. Take every precaution possible such as doing self-exams regularly, getting breast cancer screening exams and having digital mammograms done to ensure that if you do develop breast cancer, it's caught early.

Breast care is extremely important for woman of any age but many simply don't think about how exams can literally save their lives. The Porter Breast & Mammogram Center at Porter Adventist Hospital is leading the way in breast cancer screening and treatment.

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Breast cancer is one of the oldest forms of cancer that we know about. This is because unlike most other cancers of the internal organs, breast cancer can be felt and sometimes seen without the use of technological equipment. Sadly, however, simply because it is easier to diagnose breast cancer does not mean it is easier to treat. When breast cancer becomes plainly noticeable, there is a great likelihood that it is already in later stages of development.

Today, we are aware that the best fight against any cancer is early detection. In regards to breast cancer, mammograms are the most common form of regular testing and are recommended for all women over 40 years old to get tested every few years. Mammography utilizes low-energy X-rays that detect irregularities in the breast tissue. Up until not long ago, film was used as a way of detecting and recording the mammogram results, known as film-screen mammography. Today, with the advancements of digital technology, film is being replaced with digital detectors, otherwise known as full-field digital mammography.

What are some of the differences between the two systems and what are some of the advantages of digital mammography?

Density

Digital mammography is far more sensitive when it comes to creating images than film mammography. Because the X-rays must penetrate breast tissue, which can be very dense, the more sensitive the detector the better the quality of the image. More importantly than image quality is the digital capability of perceiving or picking up on things that would be concealed under tissue density with film. 

Radiation

Digital mammography uses lower doses of radiation than its predecessor. There is always a slight risk that when undergoing regular X-ray examinations, that radiation could cause cancer, although this risk is negligible compared to non-detection of tumors. Nevertheless, the lower the radiation, the better. 

Storage and Transmission

Digital mammograms create digital images which can be altered or modified whereas film images cannot. This means that factors like lighting, blurriness, and magnification can be easily manipulated with digital images. Also, because they are digital, they can be copied, stored and sent electronically much easier than with film. The speed and ease of patient information-sharing plays a strong role in the optimal treatment of cancer.

Full-field digital mammography is an example of how health and technology work together to provide more accurate and more efficient detection of breast cancer, which results in fewer cases of breast cancer mortality. The one significant disadvantage to digital mammography is the cost of the equipment, and thus fewer people have access to this equipment for the time being. But in the long run, the considerations of cost are far less important than providing the best medical services and ultimately saving lives.

Healthcare training should continue to maximize the use and understanding of digital technologies as much as possible. With the progress made in mammography as an example, digital technology should extend beyond cancer detection into all aspects of the healthcare industry.

Visit Mohawk College for more information about health courses.

Michael Zunenshine is a Copywriter at Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.

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