Mammograms: Powerful Breast Cancer Essay Example

{text:bookmark-start} Mammograms {text:bookmark-end} Mammograms are important to have because it not only affects women over 40, but it affects young and men also. A mammogram (also called a mammography exam) is a safe, low-dose x-ray of the breast. A high-quality mammogram is the most effective tool for detecting breast cancer early. Early detection of breast cancer may allow more treatment options. It could even mean saving your breast or your life. Mammograms are probably the most important tool doctors have to help them diagnose, evaluate, and follow women who've had breast cancer. Mammograms don't prevent breast cancer, but they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible. There are four important things to know about mammograms. First, they can save your life. The recommend age for having a mammogram is at age 40, unless there is a high risk. Then doctors feel you should have them earlier. Second, the procedure is fast, painless, with minimal discomfort. There is only a tiny bit of radiation exposure involved. Third, get the best quality you can. If your breasts are dense or if you are over 50, you will receive a digital mammogram. Correlate your results with other tests you've had done, like ultrasound or MRI. Fourth, it is the most powerful breast cancer detection tool. Although mammograms can miss a small percentage of breast cancer that is just not visible by using this technique there are other tools that can be used. Such as breast self-exam, clinical breast examination, ultrasound, and MRI’s. {text:bookmark-start} (Weiss,M.D., 2007) {text:bookmark-end} There is a lot of confusion to some about when to begin having mammograms. Doctors recommend beginning having a mammogram at age 40. If there is a high risk of breast cancer within your family, mammograms should began at 30 unless your doctor recommends it be done earlier. Most standard mammographic workups include two views of each breast taken from different angles. Even if you have