Mammologist

A mammologist is a specialist in the field of medicine who deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the mammary glands. Mammology is now going through a period of rapid development, as breast diseases, including cancer, are in the list of the most common among women in most countries. As a science and medical field, breast medicine also studies the risk factors that cause breast disease, thus giving women a chance to avoid breast health problems.

Today, there is a significant “rejuvenation” of breast diseases, and if 20-30 years ago the majority of mammologists’ patients were women over 35-40 years old, today there are many very young girls among them. Violations and pathologies of the development and functioning of the mammary glands can overtake a young woman from the age of 15-18, and sometimes even in childhood.

Mammologist, surgeon-mammologist, oncologist-mammologist: how do they differ from each other, what do they do

Today, patients often equate the concepts of “oncologist” and “mammologist”, because, unfortunately, the most common reason for visiting a mammologist is signs of oncological disease. In fact, these specialists may have completely different areas of expertise, or work with the same problems and pathologies. For example, a mammologist can only be engaged in theoretical development and research, or be a medical practitioner who diagnoses and treats diseases of the mammary glands. In order to qualify as a highly specialized mammologist, a doctor must first be trained in a general specialty, such as gynecology, surgery, radiology or oncology. Having studied in the general medical field, having completed an internship and residency, then the future mammologist needs to gain special knowledge in mammology at the appropriate courses. Mammology is a narrower sub-branch of general medical specialties.

Due to the fact that doctors of general specialties become mammologists, dual terms are used to indicate their main qualifications, for example, mammologist surgeon or mammologist oncologist. The surgeon, accordingly, deals mainly with the treatment of those breast diseases that require surgical intervention, and can receive patients on the basis of the surgical department of a medical institution. An oncologist specializes in the treatment of breast cancer, and works in oncology dispensaries or related clinics, hospitals.

The mammologist, first of all, diagnoses the patient: he interviews him, examines him, prescribes additional research methods (ultrasound, mammography, tests). Having received information about the symptoms and physiological parameters of the patient, the doctor establishes a diagnosis, determines the need for medical treatment or surgery.

In addition, the specialist gives advice on preventive measures, and helps patients survive the rehabilitation period after drug therapy or surgery.

Why preventive examinations by a mammologist are important, how often you need to undergo them

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Breast cancer accounts for 16% of all cancer cases in the female half of humanity. Moreover, this disease was previously the least common on the African continent, and now the incidence rate in that part of the world has almost approached the global average.

Late diagnosis and people’s lack of basic knowledge about the disease, its possible symptoms and manifestations are the main reasons why breast cancer often leads to death.

Doctors around the world focus on the need for annual preventive examinations of women by a mammologist, starting at the age of 18. After the age of 35, a woman is recommended to periodically undergo mammography, as the risk of developing tumors increases with age. For younger women without special medical indications, it is not necessary to undergo this examination, it is enough to visit a mammologist once a year and do an ultrasound of the mammary glands.

However, the insidiousness of breast cancer also lies in the fact that it can also affect men, although much less often than women. Therefore, a periodic visit to the doctor for the purpose of preventive examination is also relevant for them.

Parts of the body, organs treated by a mammologist

A doctor of this narrow specialization deals with the treatment of pathologies and diseases that affect the mammary glands in men and women. Accordingly, the male and female breasts are of medical interest to him.

What diseases does a mammologist fight?

Among the most common diseases that are treated by a mammologist:

• pathologies of the mammary glands, which are of a hormonal nature: mastopathy, gynecomastia;
• tumor diseases: cancer, sarcoma, lipoma, fibroadenoma, cystoadeno-papilloma, and others;
• inflammatory diseases such as mastitis.

His area of ​​expertise also includes the treatment and diagnosis of disorders associated with:

• asymmetry of the mammary glands;
• injury;
• hypertrophy;
• pseudotumor formations in the glands.

In addition, the doctor is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of anomalies in the development of the mammary glands. Children with developmental pathologies are taken by a pediatric mammologist.

Factors that influence the occurrence of diseases of the mammary glands

Mammologists say that various events, habits, and everyday lifestyle can contribute to the development of breast diseases and pathologies in women. Provoke diseases, in particular, cancer, can:

• early and frequent abortions;
• early onset of menstruation and late menopause;
• refusal to breastfeed, if it is not due to medical conditions;
• tan abuse;
• uncontrolled use of hormonal drugs without a doctor’s prescription;
• hereditary predisposition, the presence of similar diseases in the family;
• living in radiation-unfavorable areas;
• Smoking is a habit that has a general toxic effect on the body, and generally increases the risk of cancer.

What symptoms should you see a mammologist for?

The mammary gland is an organ that can change its state, size and appearance during life, and this dynamics is considered the norm. However, there are a number of signs that eloquently indicate that you need to visit a mammologist:

• discharge from the nipples, if we are not talking about the period of breastfeeding. Discharge of any color (dark, transparent, bloody) is a mandatory reason for consulting a doctor;
• redness of the mammary glands;
• reduction or increase in size. In some cases, for example, when losing weight or due to weight gain, during pregnancy, and also before the onset of menstruation in women, breast size may fluctuate slightly, and this is not a deviation. In all other cases, you should consult a doctor;
• seals in the chest;
• pain in the armpits, around them, in the mammary glands themselves;
• asymmetry of the glands;
• retraction or swelling of the nipple and the area around it.

In addition, you need to visit a mammologist:

• before planning pregnancy;
• in the presence of sexually transmitted diseases;
• after injuries of the mammary glands (blows, bruises);
• in case of violations in the liver;
• when staying in a long stressful situation;
• in case of hereditary predisposition to breast diseases.

One of the dangers of breast diseases is the lack of awareness among women about their etiology and danger. In particular, there is a widespread myth that all gynecological problems can be solved by pregnancy and childbirth, and even some gynecologists actively cultivate it, causing serious doubts about their competence. For example, seals as a result of mastopathy during pregnancy and lactation may disappear, but after the completion of feeding, they will return and begin to develop even faster. Pregnancy, or rather the hormonal changes it causes, in the presence of benign tumors, can cause their rebirth.

It is preferable to visit a mammologist during the period from 6 to 12 days of the menstrual cycle, if there are no acute symptoms requiring urgent medical intervention.

Symptoms of breast cancer: how to recognize a dangerous disease

One of the signs of the development of malignant tumors in the breast is pain. The appearance of pain in one breast, combined with engorgement, seals and discharge from the nipple, refers to the alarming symptoms of breast cancer. It must be remembered that dull aching pain in the nipple and halo before the onset of menstruation is observed in about 10% of women, and is the norm. In addition, a previous biopsy procedure or trauma to the breast can cause pain. Such pains are always localized in one area, are not associated with the menstrual cycle, have a cutting or shooting character.

Discharge from the chest should make a woman alarmed, provided that they:

• are constant, that is, do not depend on the menstrual cycle;
• appeared along with a change in the appearance of the mammary glands – engorgement, seals;
• sudden: not associated with physical impact on the chest (squeezing, friction);
• have a color: the liquid released from the nipples is not transparent, but has a greenish, reddish, yellow color;
• stand out from only one breast or from several pores on the breast.

If at the same time the appearance and condition of the nipple changed, itching, peeling, inflammation appeared, this may indicate the development of cancer.

Seals are not always malignant, but in any case, it requires examination and consultation with a doctor. If it is painful, has uneven edges, a hard texture, can only move along with adjacent tissues, and does not change in any way during the menstrual cycle, a mandatory consultation with an oncologist is necessary.

Treatment methods used by a mammologist

The basis of treatment is the correct diagnosis and determination of the treatment regimen. Therefore, the first thing a mammologist begins his work with when a patient comes to him is the collection of information about all the symptoms and manifestations that bother the patient. To do this, a patient may be interviewed, but the main way to study his condition is an examination. The doctor assesses the condition of the mammary glands visually, and also feels them, checks for secretions and seals. To clarify the diagnosis, a number of tests and examinations are prescribed, for example, taking a smear from the nipple with a cytological analysis of secretions, puncture from neoplasms, mammography, ultrasound examination of the glands, examination of tissues taken with a biopsy, computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the chest, as well as ductography (X-ray examination of the ducts of the mammary glands).

After the end of the diagnostic stage and the establishment of a diagnosis, the doctor decides what type of treatment the patient needs. Drug therapy may be prescribed, in some cases – surgery. A breast surgeon with appropriate qualifications can both prescribe surgical treatment and personally perform the operation.

In addition, the doctor may refer the patient to various procedures and drug therapy as a rehabilitation or to prevent possible breast health problems.

Usually, a mammologist’s appointment takes place in a medical institution – a clinic, hospital, dispensary, however, in some private medical institutions there is a doctor’s house call service.

The demand for mammologists has increased significantly in recent years. This is due to the fact that the number of women with alarming symptoms in the area of ​​the mammary glands is increasing every year, and the diseases themselves are “younger”, that is, they affect both the elderly and the very young. In order to prevent the development of dangerous diseases, doctors recommend following simple rules: avoid prolonged stress and exhaustion of the body; periodically independently examine the mammary glands for the appearance of neoplasms; monitor the hygiene of the mammary glands (do not use hard washcloths, avoid injuries and bruises, do not wear uncomfortable or unsuitable bras); protect the breast from direct exposure to ultraviolet rays.

These simple rules and regular preventive examination by a mammologist will help prevent health problems, and if there are any, detect them in the early stages and start treatment.