Discomforts Caused by Mammogram Can Save Your Lives

Embarrassing as it seems, a woman usually undergoes clinical tests such as a mammogram, which includes private parts of the body - the breast to be examined. Doing it in the comfort of your homes, like checking the surrounding area while taking a bath, is a practice of taking care of your health. This method can help you look for an unusual spot that is sometimes leading to Breast Cancer.

American Cancer Society defined breast cancer as cells growing out of control that started in the breast area. It usually starts as a lump that you can feel and occurs mostly on women. So, if the men think they are safe, they're not. American Cancer Society Emphasized that men can also get breast cancer.

(Photo: marijana1 )

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Before jumping to conclusions, the American Cancer Society emphasized that most breast lumps are benign and not cancer, meaning they are abnormal growths that do not spread outside of the breast. In an interview with Newsbook, Gertrude Abella, the president of Europa Donna Malta and diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, stressed that women need to know their breast and get them checked regularly.

Abella said that there are symptoms that sometimes you cannot feel, but the mammogram can find it from the very beginning. She also said that it could be a little uncomfortable for a few seconds, but according to her, it is nothing and can save your life.

Abella also said that if someone was diagnosed with breast cancer to not give up because, according to her, it is not right.

What is a Mammogram?

According to Breastcancer.Org, a mammogram is the most important tool doctors can use to screen and diagnose breast cancer. It also follows up and evaluates people who have been diagnosed with the disease. Mayo Clinic, on the other hand, described the tool as a picture of the breast taken with a safe, low-dose X-ray machine. One breast will be examined at a time on a flat surface. The compression paddle will gently be lowered into place to compress the breast.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mammogram is uncomfortable for most women because the breast will be compressed for a short period of time. Breastcancer.org emphasized that this compression is very vital to flatten and reduce the thickness of the breast. They added that the X-ray beam should penetrate a few layers of overlapping tissues that are possible. If the breast is not compressed enough, then the overlapping of healthy tissues can look like cancer, and healthy tissues can hide cancer, and it goes undetected. Usually, a Radiologist who has special training will read the mammogram and look for early signs of breast cancer or other problems.

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What should I do if the result of my mammogram is normal?

CDC suggests continuing to get mammograms according to recommended time intervals of your doctor. They emphasized that mammograms should be compared to previous results to allow the radiologist to see if there changes you need to keep an eye on.

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