Thursday, March 13, 2014

What You Should Know About Mammography San Diego CA

By Jaclyn Hurley


The mammography procedure uses X rays to detect breast tumors. It is performed by radiologist technologists and it produces a mammogram of the breasts. It allows doctors to view tumors that physical examination cannot detect. Mammograms also reveal the presence of non cancerous tumors in the breasts. By visiting a healthcare institution or clinic that offers mammography San Diego CA inhabitants can find out if they have breast cancer and get treated early.

Research studies show that women who have breast cancer are more likely to survive if it is detected in its early stage. Cure rates of up to ninety percent have been reported in patients who have minimal tumors. Before undergoing the procedure patients should inform their physicians if they are expectant or planning to conceive. They should also avoid applying lotion, cream, body powder or deodorant on their chests on the day when the test will be performed to ensure accuracy.

Before you undergo the procedure, the radiographical technologist will ask you to remove everything you are wearing above your waist and put on a hospital gown. You can go for the test wearing a two piece garment. You will also be asked to remove any jewelry before undergoing the procedure and stand in front of an X ray machine with your breasts held on a breast support table.

The technician will then flatten your breasts gently by pressing together the two radiographic breast supports. When the breasts are compressed, technicians are able to obtain a very clear picture with a low amount of radiation being used. You may experience some discomfort because of this pressure but it will only last for a short duration.

The breasts are imaged in several positions so that the radiologist will be able to see all breast tissue adequately. After a mammogram, the result will be provided to your physician and he or she will inform you what they mean and if further tests are required. Mammography facilities are required to send results to patients by mail within 30 days.

According to research completed by the American Cancer Society, about one or two patients out the one thousand patients who get mammograms are found to have breast cancer. On average, ten percent of these patients are asked to get further tests. Only eight to ten percent of women who have gotten a mammogram are asked to get a biopsy and only twenty percent of biopsies show the presence of cancerous cells in breasts.

Insurance firms that offer wellness programs usually spend money for yearly mammogram screenings for women who are 40 years or older. Using mammograms to test for breast cancer is a controversial subject. This is due to fearing that the X ray machines used to perform a mammogram unnecessarily exposes patients to high doses of radiation, which can cause cancer.

Women should not be afraid of getting a mammogram because new X ray machines do not expose patients to high radiation levels. Older machines exposed patients to as much as 10 rads of radiation. This is hazardous particularly if a patient undergoes the procedure regularly over ten or more years. Modern X ray machines expose patients to lower than 1 rad of radiation.




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