IS MAMMOGRAPHY SAFE?
There
is a minimal risk of breast cancer induction from annual mammogram screenings
beginning at age 40 to 50. The risk is higher for women who are younger
at the time of radiation exposure.3,6
In late 1998, the American Cancer Society established that with modern
mammography equipment there is only about 0.1 to 0.2 rad dose of radiation
exposure per x-ray. In comparison, radiation therapy as a treatment
for breast cancer can measure several thousand rads.H
Let’s weight this against current statistics. The chances are 1 in
8 that you will get breast cancer at some time in your life. The
chances are 1 in 10,000 that you will die from breast cancer as a result
of radiation from annual screening mammograms conducted between the ages
of 40 and 49.6 You decide.
The Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), a federal law, became effective
on October 1, 1994. This law protects us by requiring all mammography
facilities (except VHA) to be FDA certified. When I go in for a mammogram,
I look for the facilities FDA certification certificate. I usually
find it framed and hanging proudly on a wall. This certifies that
the facility uses only specialized low-dose mammography equipment, that
their personnel are well trained and that they meet federal standards for
equipment, personnel, and record keeping.3,12,14
VHA has its own quality control system which is similar to the FDA plan.3,14
WHAT DOES A MAMMOGRAM
COST?
Screening
mammography may cost between $35.00 and $255,11
however, most are between $50 and $150.12
Many insurance companies are now covering screening mammography and Medicare
will pay for annual mammograms for all women age 40 and over effective
Jan. 1, 1998. In addition, the Part B deductible is also waived for
this service.11,12,I
For those in need, low cost or no cost screenings can usually be arranged
when the right organizations, agencies, and/or support groups become involved.11
You are worth the effort!
AM I SAFE IF I FIND
A LUMP BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE MAMMOGRAM
The answer is NO! Mammography has proven to be a very valuable
tool in breast cancer screening, but MAMMOGRAPHY IS NOT FOOLPROOF.
Never ignore a lump just because it cannot be seen on mammography.12
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee
on Gynecologic Practice included the following in their guidelines for
the early diagnosis of breast disease:
“Mammography
alone is not sufficient to rule out malignant pathology in a patient with
a palpable breast mass.”J
Some
breast cancers are invisible to mammography which creates false-negative
readings.
The only way to diagnose cancer is by collecting fluid or tissue from the
suspicious site (through needle or surgical biopsy) and having those cells
evaluated under a microscope by a trained professional.9,10
AM I SAFE IF THE
MAMMOGRAM IDENTIFIES AN AREA BUT THERE IS NO LUMP?
The answer is NO AGAIN! Lump-less breast cancers are being discovered
with the aid of mammography. Although this is wonderful for the women
diagnosed with early breast cancer, the mammogram is not foolproof.
False-positive mammograms have also been responsible for biopsies of lump-less
tissue which was not cancerous.10
You have to take the good with the bad.
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“Breast-Mapping”®
was designed as an educational tool and it should not be used in place
of appropriate medical care. Every effort has been made to ensure
that the information presented herein is accurate at the time of publication.
New research is ongoing however, and therefore it is possible that the
data and recommendations presented herein may be invalidated by new findings.
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