While mammograms are not perfect, they are still the best preventative measure we have against breast cancer. Here’s what you should consider before you get screened.
The Benefits
Early Detection Saves Lives
Studies from around the world have shown a minimum 15 per cent reduction in deaths for women who are screened regularly from age 40. Mammograms can usually find lumps two or three years before a doctor or self-examination. Early detection offers a better chance of cure and can avoid the adverse effects of treatments for more advanced disease.
The Concerns
A False Negative
A cancer could be missed, especially in women under the age of 50. Younger breast tissue can be dense, making abnormalities more difficult to detect. Knowing your own breast tissue and performing self-exams can help mitigate this risk.
A False Positive
There is the possibility of detecting a breast cancer and then having unnecessary treatment for something that may never have caused problems. However, science is not yet at a point to unequivocally know which cancers are “safe” to leave alone and which ones need treatment.
The Stress
When you have a mammogram, only two pictures are taken of each breast: front and side views. So, on average, there is a seven per cent chance that you may be called back for more testing. Although this might cause some anxiety, in over 95 per cent of recalled women, no cancer is found. And in all my years of practice, not one of my patients has complained about the extra testing as they were ultimately relieved to have definitive results.
Exposure to Radiation
There is exposure to low levels of radiation with mammography; however, no breast cancers have ever been directly attributed to mammograms.
Click through for the B.C. Cancer Agency's recommendations on when to get a mammogram
Get the Clear Picture on Mammograms
Dr. Rhonda Low is a family physician and TV and radio health journalist in Vancouver.
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