The Gold Standard for Breast Cancer Screening

Mammograms are still the gold standard for breast cancer screening.  Although I go to great lengths to get my friends to go for a yearly mammogram, I am always surprised at how many women try to avoid it or make excuses not to have one. To be clear, by screening I mean testing to reveal cancer when none is suspected. The goal is to detect breast cancer before it becomes invasive.  Finding a breast tumor while it is still in-situ, or in the duct results in a much better outcome and possibly avoids extensive surgery and treatment. Both my mother and my mother-in-law were fortunate to be diagnosed with breast cancer while it was still at this early stage. While my mother was offered a lumpectomy and hormonal therapy, she opted for a mastectomy and carried on with her life cancer free.  Exciting new research is being done on a blood test for breast cancer, but until proven there are three methods of screening recommended for all women. A breast self exam is one. It allows you to know what your breasts feel like and to be hones I never thought I did a good job at this until I found the lump diagnosed as a breast tumor. The second is a clinical breast exam, where your doctor will feel for lumps on and around your breasts. The third is the mammogram. It is still the gold standard for breast cancer screening without question. My friends say that they don’t like to have their breasts squished between two plates. Some cite the radiation the exam emits, but truly it is minimal, b...
Source: Life with Breast Cancer - Category: Cancer Authors: Tags: Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Screening Mammograms Thermography Source Type: blogs