In recent years, doctors have said with alarm that breast cancer is “getting younger.” This disease is diagnosed even in very young women – 20-25 years old. That is why a mammogram is a vital test for women’s health. Who needs a mammogram and how often?
Breast mammogram is the best prevention of tumors
A mammogram is a medical examination that uses a special low-dose X-ray machine to examine a woman’s breast. A mammogram is often referred to simply as a mammogram. Indications for conducting may be chest pain, detection of seals, swelling, redness, violation of the breast contour, change in the shape of the nipples or various discharge from them outside the lactation period. If you yourself suspect that something is wrong, do not hesitate and contact the mammologist at your place of residence.
Also, mammographic examination is indicated for absolutely all women over 40 years old, regardless of the detection of alarming symptoms. If your family has previously diagnosed breast diseases (mother, sister, aunt), then the examinations should be started earlier. A mammogram should be done at least once a year. This will be quite enough to detect the disease at the earliest stage and receive the necessary treatment. In addition, mammography is prescribed for women before surgery.
You can do a mammogram, in principle, on any day of the cycle.
But for women of childbearing age, the best option is 6-14 days. Older women, on the other hand, can sign up for an examination when it is convenient for them.
All examinations take only a few minutes and are completely painless. Before the procedure, you will be asked to undress to the waist and take off all jewelry – chains, beads, necklaces. The doctor checks both of the woman’s mammary glands, alternately placing them between special plates and squeezing a little in order to fix the breast still. The position of the woman during the examination may be different, depending on the type of apparatus. Then the doctor takes two X-rays – a mammogram. The results obtained during the examination are examined by a doctor. After that, on their basis, a conclusion is drawn up on the state of health of the woman and recommendations are given for the next visits to the mammologist. The day before the examination, experts do not recommend that women use cosmetic creams and lotions, deodorants and perfumes in order to avoid an allergic reaction when the patient’s skin comes into contact with X-ray plates.
A mammogram of the mammary gland can reveal a disease even a year or two before the onset of processes that are irreversible for a woman’s health. Moreover, the procedure itself is safe and painless. So do not neglect this simple and necessary examination.