Mammogram

There are a variety of ways for a doctor to identify breast disorders and locate precisely where the lumps are hidden within a breast.

One of these ways is the mammogram.

The mammogram will outline for the surgeon or the doctor just what types of changes are occurring in the breast tissue. A mammogram uses very low doses of radiation to scan the breasts.  The mammogram is a diagnostic tool that screens the breast for possible problems and for hidden lumps. 

The woman is asked to disrobe from the waist up. Plates are then placed under the breast and also to the sides compressing the breast for easier viewing. A bar then comes down from the top of the machine, adding firm pressure to the top of the breast.

If the woman is heavy-chested, the mammogram will not be able to scan all the dense tissue therefore, certain areas may be missed. The same applies with small-breasted women. The mammogram can miss the area if there is nothing there to compress.
Benign lumps and cancerous lumps will show up white on the x-ray. The lumps are more defined in older women with fatty breasts, then with younger women whose breasts are denser. Dense tissue is known to effectively hide lumps.

The radiologist is not the expert when it comes to reading these films, so asking him questions afterwards should be avoided. Save your questions for your doctor when he calls you in to discuss the findings.

Some problems mammograms can reveal are:

• A cyst
• A fibroadadenoma- a commonly found lump that is never malignant
• Lesions
• Radial scarring
• Lymph nodes in the breast

If you have a lump that can be palpated, the radiologist will put a marker on your breast for clarification.

One important note, if you are told that your mammogram is abnormal, it is vital that you get a second opinion of that reading. Make sure that the person reading the film the second time is a specialist in mammography readings. You may find that your breasts are not abnormal at all and an unnecessary surgery will be avoided.

Most masses in the breast turn out to be fluid-filled cysts, or small calcium deposits.
Any areas that show suspicious masses will then be followed up by a needle biopsy.
A mammogram is not perfect, and it is not comfortable, but what is a few minutes of discomfort compared to the possibility of a longer period of time filled with pain.

If you are one of the millions of Americans without health insurance, check with the local hospitals. Many hospitals offer programs that allow low-income or women without insurance to get free mammograms yearly.