Is Mammogram The Best Way to Detect Breast Cancer?

Mammography For Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can be deadly, but the success ratio of its treatment is pretty high. A patient can’t receive appropriate treatment unless the disease is identified correctly. Everything plays a massive role in deciding the treatment from the cancer stage to the patient’s history.

Mammography for breast cancer is an ideal way to diagnose the illness and start with the treatment as soon as possible. 

The real question here is: Is mammography for breast cancer the only best way to detect the disease? 

It’s not the only examination available, but its efficiency makes it stand out from the rest. 

Technology is advancing, and so are the options to diagnose a particular illness. Mammography for breast cancer has shown excellent results when it comes to early detection, but it also has its limitations.

We will discuss all of it in this article! 

What is a Mammogram?

A mammography is a screening tool used to take an x-ray of the breast for early diagnosis and detection of breast cancer. This examination perfectly complements the physical inspection of the breast to give out accurate results. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the US, as per the National Cancer Institute Trusted Source. The disease is highly common in women, but it appears in many men as well.

With the number of patients increasing every year, women aged 40 are suggested to get digital Mammography for breast cancer done every 1-2 years. People who have a family history of cancer or breast cancer are at a high risk of developing the disease, so it’s best to take the test than to suffer the consequences. 

During the mammography of breast cancer process, the oncologist takes out several x-rays of your breast to look for any possible signs of cancer. Screening mammography is taken out for regular checkups, while a diagnostic mammogram is taken out when there is a lump in your breast for deep analysis. Diagnostic mammograms are far more extensive than regular screening mammograms as they involve a view of the breast from different directions. 

Importance of Mammography Screening

There are many benefits of mammography for breast cancer.
Some of them are as follows:

Early Detection & Diagnosis
Mammography for breast cancer is the best examination to look for early signs of cancer in the patient. 

Reduced Chances of Chemotherapy
Mammography screening allows early detection, which often saves time for treatment without chemotherapy. 

Best Way to Check Breast Health
Regular Mammography for breast cancer screening enables women to maintain their health and avoid cancer for a long time. 

Limitations of Mammograph
Where mammography for breast cancer is considered to be the best examination, it certainly has its limitations. Here are a few of them. 

False-Negatives
Women with dense breasts are more likely to get false-negatives even when the cancer is present. It gives women the false security that they are cancer-free when they should be receiving the appropriate treatment.  

False-Positives
Just like false-negatives, false-positives are also quite frequent in breast cancer. False-positives are more common in women who take estrogen, have dense breasts, or are young. It can lead to additional examination, for instance, MRI, ultrasound, and diagnostic mammographs. 

If it’s your first mammograph, then the chances of receiving a false-positive are many. Always carry your previous mammography screening reports with you for the examination to avoid such circumstances. 

A fake positive can cause anxiety and fear in many women. Apart from it, additional tests to confirm the diagnosis can cause financial pressure as well.  

Mammography is Not for All Women

Mammography for breast cancer is not for women who are already going through a severe illness that significantly reduces their life expectancy. Women’s overall health is a priority when you’re planning to get screening mammography. There is no point in searching for another disease when they are already suffering from a life-threatening illness. 

As per the American Cancer Society, women who have severe illness should consult with their physician to get mammography screening. Apart from it, mammograms are useless for patients whose cancer has spread already. Your doctor will make the final call on what should be done! 

Exposure to Radiation
Although mammography for breast cancer uses low radiation, getting more than one mammography can increase the risk.  

Overtreatment and Overdiagnosis
Another possible limitation of mammography for breast cancer is overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Mammography is expected to point out ductal carcinoma or invasive breast cancer, but such cancers are not likely to grow or spread. In such cases, looking for a treatment to cure the disease refers to overdiagnosis. Although they are harmless, the doctor cannot be particular if the disease will spread or not. 

When there is an overdiagnosis, there is overtreatment. The inability of doctors to correctly tell which cancers are more life-threatening is a reason behind overtreatment. It not only affects the health of the patient but also puts financial pressure on them. Even though it’s a possibility, but overdiagnosis and overtreatment are not that common.

Other Tests to Identify Breast Cancer

Mammography for breast cancer has its limitations, so it’s important to include another form of examination for perfect diagnosis. Some of the standard methods for breast cancer diagnosis are: 

Physical Exam
A physical exam is also referred to as the breast exam, in which the doctor checks for lymph nodes, lumps, or any other abnormalities. 

Breast Ultrasound 
The test is carried out with ultrasound that uses sound waves to generate images of the breast. It’s best used to identify a breast lump or cyst. 

Biopsy
A biopsy is done by removing part of the breast cells for examination. This test shows 100% accurate results and is the last resort to make the final judgment call. The sample is taken from the suspected area, and tissue imaging is done to check for cancerous cells. 

Conclusion

Although Mammography for breast cancer has its shortcomings, it’s still one of the most common breast cancer identification exams. 

Find the best diagnostic imaging services in NJ, USA, to carry out mammography services to ensure transparency and accurate results. It’s up to the doctor to recommend a particular exam as per your condition, so mammography is not the only way to detect breast cancer.