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Overview
Early detection of breast cancer is vital for full recovery. Mammograms are an essential part of every woman's health. Mammograms are X-rays of a woman's breasts that can detect changes. These changes can be felt by a physical exam or changes that have not been felt by a physical exam. Mammograms have been able to detect fast-growing or aggressive cancers before a lump could be felt. There are two types of mammograms: screening and diagnostic. Most women begin with a screening mammogram as a part of their routine physical.
What a Mammogram Detects
A mammogram will detect the dark areas of fatty tissue, the lighter areas of denser tissue, and the solid white areas that typically indicate breast cancer.
Suspicious Changes
If a lump is felt or a screening mammogram has detected suspicious changes in the breast tissue, a diagnostic mammogram is ordered. What are the criteria for "suspicious changes"?
• A solid white area on the mammogram.
• Fibrocystic changes-micro calcifications that appear on the mammogram as white dots. These micro calcifications are considered benign unless tightly clustered together.
• Cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs within the breast.
• Fibroadenomas-benign tumors within the breast.
• Areas of distortion from scar tissue.
Good News
In about 80 to 85 percent, the "suspicious changes" in the breast are not cancer. Your physician may decide to follow up with a second mammogram in six months to determine if there have been any changes. This is due to the approximately 20 percent false negatives and false positives in a diagnostic mammogram. Followup may also include an ultrasound and/or a biopsy to conclusively determine whether the suspicious changes are in fact cancer.
Benefits of Mammograms
Mammograms are a beneficial tool for identifying the location of the suspicious changes prior to an ultrasound and when performing a needle or surgical biopsy. The mammogram is also used as a record of growth and/or changes in the breast tissue for all women. This will allow your physician to determine if the changes since five years ago are simply changes or an indicator of cancer. Micro calcifications that were sparsely located on a previous mammogram that is now clustered together will allow the doctor more information than a new mammogram with no previous mammogram to refer to. This long-term record can assist doctors in diagnosis, treatment and save your life.
Early Detection
Mammograms have been the best early detector of breast cancer. While a mammogram shows fast-growing and aggressive cancers before it can be felt during a physical exam, it does not have the ability to detect cancer as effectively in women with denser breast tissue or while a woman is breast feeding. If you notice a change in your breast tissue, talk to your doctor right away.
