GOING PINK FOR NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Posted October 2, 2013 by Jacob Haiavy, MD, FACS

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is getting underway, and you may be thinking about how you can make a difference in the lives of the 200,000 plus women that will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Find out what prevention measures you can take in the fight against breast cancer.

The statistics are always shocking. Nearly one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. ONE IN EIGHT.

Mammograms are one of the more dreaded doctor’s visits, yet they are the most proactive measure a woman can take in detecting and preventing breast cancer. Here are a few things you should know about mammograms this year.

Why should I get a mammogram?

Self-checks are important, but lumps cannot always be felt.

On average, mammograms, on average, take 20-30 minutes.

Set an example. Be a role model.

Did we mention it’s the second-leading cause of death among women?

It’s safe, and it can save your life.

Also, a good rule of thumb to remember on the day of your mammogram is to not wear deodorant, lotion, power, perfume or jewelry as all of these can play a factor in mammogram misreads.

Implants and Cancer

Even though breast implants may hide some breast tissue, having them should not be an excuse not to go get yourself checked out. Your technician and/or radiologist should be experienced in performing mammograms on breast augmentation patients. There are even new techniques like implant displacement views that are being used to help detect abnormal tissue around the implant.

When you go in for a mammogram, it’s important to have certain information before so you are prepared as you can be because the information received after can seem daunting. But the good news is that The American College of Radiology (ACR) has created a pretty uniform system to help describe mammogram findings for their patients called the BI-RADS.

Being well-informed and prepared for your mammogram will make you feel more at ease with the situation. But for a lot of women, breast cancer has already become a reality.

If you are looking or are just considering a breast surgery, follow the link below.