Why is mammography important?
Mammography is the most effective screening tool available to detect breast cancer early. Today's low-dose mammography techniques have greatly improved a woman's chances for survival from breast cancer because mammography may detect a tumor long before a woman or her doctor can feel it.

In addition to discovering abnormalities that might otherwise go undetected, mammography may also help physicians determine the nature of suspicious areas in the breast. If a finding or spot seems abnormal, your radiologist may recommend further diagnostic studies.

Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate an abnormality found either through screening mammography or on clinical breast examination. Typically, specifically tailored mammography views of the breast are obtained and interpreted by the radiologist during diagnostic mammography.

Although mammography detects most abnormalities before they can be felt, physical examinations may reveal a lump that doesn't show up on a mammogram. It is important that a woman's preventive health plan include both regular clinical breast exams by your physician and monthly breast self-examinations.

If breast cancer is found and treated early, while localized to the breast, the national five-year relative survival rate is greater than 90 percent. In addition, women have more treatment options if the tumor is detected at an early stage; meaning treatments other than mastectomy are often possible.

Why do we offer digital mammography?
The latest multi-site trials have shown that digital mammography was more sensitive in three specific groups of women. They are:

  1. Women with dense breast tissue
  2. Women under the age of 40
  3. pre and peri- menopausal women. Digital mammography has been shown to be up to 28% more sensitive than film screen mammography in certain groups.

These findings were published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine in October of last year. High Resolution offers digital mammography exclusively.

Who should receive a mammogram?
Not everyone needs a mammogram. The need depends on your age, symptoms and health history. However, considering the high incidence of breast cancer and the demonstrated value of mammography, High Resolution and the American Cancer Society propose this guideline: Routine annual mammograms are recommended for all women beginning at age 40. Mammograms may also be advised for a woman of any age who has any of the following signs or symptoms:

    A palpable lump in the breast
    Discharge from the nipple
    Visible changes in the surface of the breast skin
    Breasts that may be hard to examine due to their large size or prior surgery
    A family history of breast cancer
    Women who have had breast cancer and those at high risk for breast cancer, such as those with a strong family history, should speak to their physician about whether they should begin screening before age 40 and about how often they should be screened.

Why are Breast Self Exams (BSE) important?
If you are like most women, you're concerned about your own risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women.

We do not know what causes breast cancer, but we do know that every woman is at risk and that her risk increases with age.

But there is good news. Tumors that are diagnosed when they are still very small, and have not spread to other parts of the body, can be successfully treated.

The most effective program for early detection should include three simple steps:

  1. Mammography or breast x-rays every year, starting at age 40
  2. Clinical Breast Examination by a healthcare professional - as part of your routine physical
  3. Breast Self Examination, or B.S.E.

How do I correctly perform a self exam?
Let's look at how to perform BSE correctly
Breasts are composed of fatty tissue and fibrous tissue, milk glands, and milk ducts. That's why breasts feel lumpy to the touch. Your goal is to learn what's normal for you, so that you can spot any changes immediately.

BSE should be done every month, after your period. If you do not have periods, do the exam at t he same time each month.

There are two parts to BSE: looking and feeling.

To begin, examine your breasts for changes in shape, size, color, and skin texture.

    Looking
  • Look for 'dimpling' - the tugging on the skin or nipple, often caused by a growing tumor, in four positions:

  • First with your arms down
  • then with your arms in the air.
  • pushing down on the hips, to tighten your chest muscles
  • bending forward at the waist, with your arms relaxed.

  • Lower your arms, and examine your armpits for enlarged lymph nodes - a sign of a possible change within your breast tissue.
    Feeling
  • Lie down on a firm surface.
  • Place a folded towel under your shoulder and extend your arm out at an angle to spread the breast tissue out evenly.
  • Use the pads - not the tips - of three middle fingers.
  • Move your fingers in dime-size circles.
  • Use light, medium and deep pressure, to check the full thickness of your breast.
  • Begin in the armpit area and continue going up and down in strips until you have examined the entire area where breast tissue may be found - from the collarbone to the bra line, and from the armpit to the breastbone.
  • Light - medium - deep
  • Move the hand over without lifting the fingers from the skin
  • Move in vertical strips overlapping them slightly. The circular and wedge patterns have been shown to be less effective in finding changes in breast tissue.
  • Change hands and examine the other breast.

That's all there is to BSE

After you've done BSE a few times, you'll get used to the normal lumpiness of your breasts, and you'll gain confidence in your ability to detect a change.

Don't neglect regular clinical breast examinations, and most importantly, if you are 40 or over, have a mammogram every year.

Whether you find something by BSE or by accident, report it promptly to your doctor. That's what breast health awareness is all about.

How can I reduce my risk?
The causes of cancer are complex; therefore, there is no guaranteed method for preventing cancer from striking. However, there are several risk factors and lifestyle traits that have been strongly linked to an increased risk for developing cancer.

By adhering to the guidelines below, you may significantly reduce your risk for developing breast cancer, and also increase your opportunity to detect it early, when treatment is most successful:

Get routine mammograms and regular clinical breast examinations.

Perform monthly breast self-examinations and promptly report changes to your physician.

Lower your fat intake
Reduce alcohol consumption
Do not smoke
Exercise regularly

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