Breast Cancer Screening: Everything You Need To Know About Mammogram

When we say the term ‘screening’, it is usually referred to a series of evaluation tests that are carried out in order to diagnose the possibility of an ailment even when someone doesn’t show any symptoms.

It is important to note that not every disease can be diagnosed using the screening tests.

A screening test to diagnose breast cancer is known as Mammogram. Women who are above 40 years of age and have a high risk of developing breast cancer are usually considered as the target population for Mammogram, suggests Dr. Sidharth Sahni, a prominent oncologist in Delhi-NCR.

The only recognized screening test for breast cancer, mammogram has been able to save multiple lives by being able to detect the presence of breast cancer in its initial stages. Cancer of every kind is curable in its early stages. The difficulty in the treatment begins at the later stages.

It is also crucial to be aware of the fact that mammogram doesn’t safeguard you from breast cancer; it simply detects if it’s present or not. It can, however, determines the course of the treatment which, in turn, can prove to be beneficial.

With the help of mammogram, healthcare professionals have been able to detect the presence of cancer well before its invasion to the surrounding tissues.

Technical Aspects of A Mammogram

A mammogram is nothing but simply an X-ray of breast tissue. When mammogram screening is done, the breast tissue is pinched between the two plates, and an X-ray is performed, thereafter. Post this, the healthcare professionals have a look at the X-ray photograph to check whether any abnormality such as calcification or structural distortion is present.  

Talking about the risk factors associated with mammogram, Dr. Sidharth Sahni says, “Since mammogram leverages X-rays, the women undertaking it may get exposed to the radiation.”

To regulate the amount of radiation emerging from the X-rays used in mammograms, chief health authorities across the world are taking necessary steps. As a result, the development of super-advanced mammogram machines that use only a small amount of radiation has become possible. These machines do not add to the risk of developing breast cancer besides delivering the best results possible.

If you think you are at risk of developing breast cancer, you can definitely go forward with a digital mammogram and get yourself screened at the earliest in order to receive the best treatment possible.