A trip to the doctor is a nervous situation we have all faced. Many are uncomfortable with extensive questions and examinations, but they are crucial for a doctor to help us with our ailments. A mammogram is one such examination that can make a woman’s heart miss a beat.
Mammography is a special type of X-ray imaging method used to investigate breast tissue. It helps to detect breast cancer early, which massively improves your chances of complete cure.
The procedure requires you to place your breast on a plastic plate, and another plate will be lowered onto the top surface to flatten your breast. This helps to get a detailed image of your breast tissue.
Read on as we separate facts from the many myths that revolve around this crucial test.
References
American Cancer Society. (2020). Mammogram Basics. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/mammogram-basics.html
Askhar, L. K., & Zaki, Y. H. (2017). Female patients’ perception of pain caused by mammography in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 38(7), 768–771. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2017.7.19298
CDC. (n.d.). Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Women. Retrieved June 17, 2021, from http://www.aafp.org/dam/AAFP/documents/patient_care/clinical_recommendations/cps-recommendations.
Feig, S. A., & Hendrick, R. E. (1997). Radiation risk from screening mammography of women aged 40-49 years. In Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs (Issue 22, pp. 119–124). J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncimono/1997.22.119
Mammography Quality Standards Act Regulations | FDA. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/regulations-mqsa/mammography-quality-standards-act-regulations
Shah, A. T., & Jankharia, B. B. (2016). Imaging of common breast implants and implant-related complications: A pictorial essay. In Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging (Vol. 26, Issue 2, pp. 216–225). Medknow Publications. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-3026.184409
What Is a Mammogram? | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/mammograms.htm
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