Article:
Mammography is a medical test that uses x-rays to take pictures of the internal structure of the breast. The test is also known as "mammography". Mammograms are done for two reasons: Screening: When women participate on a routine basis to have mammograms to detect breast cancer at an early stage. This type of mammogram is looking for signs that breast cancer may be developing, even if there are no symptoms. Diagnosis: This is usually done to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign / symptom was found as pain, skin thickening, nipple discharge, or a change in breast size or shape. It can also be used as a second test if a mammogram finds something that is not normal. Here's how a screening mammogram: You will be sitting or standing in front of a machine used only for mammography. The x-ray technologist to place your breast on a plastic plate on the machine. As a second plastic plate is lowered to the chest, pressure standardize the breast tissue. This allows the machine to get a clearer picture as possible. The tolerance to the pressure on the breasts varies between 42 women.Footnote A special low-dose X-ray is then used to look for patterns or breast lumps that are not normal. These may be too small for you or your health care provider to find by feel your breasts. The same procedure is then carried out with the other breast. High-quality mammography finds some types of breast cancer when they are very small, 2 to 4 years before they would felt.Footnote 43 Mammograms are safe? Mammograms involve exposure to X-rays and X-ray radiation has been found to cause cancer. The amount of radiation you receive during a screening mammogram will be based on: the amount of fat in the breast tissue (density); and the number of images taken. Your total exposure to radiation from mammography screening depend on the number of mammograms that you had. X-ray technologists are experts in the placement of the breast and know how to reduce the amount of radiation you receive. The amount of radiation you get from a screening mammogram is almost the same as the amount they would have received more than 3 months from your usual environment (such as the sun, rocks, soil, buildings, air and food) .Footnote 44 studies show that the risk of starting a new cancer because of the radiation to the breast by mammography breast screening is extremely low.Footnote 45-48 the benefits of early detection and treatment of breast cancer far outweigh the risk of be exposed to small amounts of radiation from a mammogram screening.