Mammography test
Mammography Test
Introduction
Cancers are autoimmune conditions wherein colonies of cells grow in an abnormal manner. Such growth can occur at any site / organ of the human body. People of any age group can get it. The chances of survival are fairly high if cancers are diagnosed at the preliminary stage.
Women Breast
In women, breasts serve as milk-secreting glands. These make mothers’ milk, which helps in feeding newly-born babies. Women breasts are covered by fats underneath their skin, and is home to an intricate system of ducts. All its ducts converge at the nipple. When a woman becomes pregnant, breasts undergo several hormonal changes. Changes occur in levels of prolactin, progesterone as well as estrogen. Such changes help women secrete milk for their newly-delivered infants.
How To Identify Breast Cancer?
Most people who get breast cancer may see no signs of the disease. One of the common signs of the onset of breast cancers is formation of a mass or a bump in breasts. Detecting this condition at an earlier stage is possible through periodic examination of your breasts. You may also schedule examination done by a qualified physician.
You need to watch out for softening of nipples or formation of a bump in your armpit or a breast. You may also observe changes in texture of your skin. At times, you may witness pores of skin (on breast) getting enlarged. Lump-type of structure inside the breast may need a thorough investigation by a qualified doctor. However, you also need to know that not all bumps or lumps are symptoms of cancers.
Breast Self-Examination
You can do self-examination of breasts at home i.e., without the help of medical professionals. You may need to watch out for an inexplicable change in the shape of size of breasts. Also, look out for any inflammation or shrinking of either of your breasts or both.
It also helps to search for a possible asymmetry of your breasts. However, it is not uncommon for one of the breasts to be of a different size. But, if you sense any recent change in shape / size of one of your breasts, you are advised to talk to a certified caregiver.
In some women, skin of nipple / areola and either (or both) of your breasts may turn red and scaly. Skin may also develop ridges with small-sized pits that resemble an orange’s skin. Seld-examination is also done to detect any milk-like discharge your nipple(s). Such discharges may be witnessed when you are not nursing / breastfeeding an infant.
Early Signs Of Breast Cancer
There are a few distinct signs breast cancers may show up with. These include pain in your nipples, a part of your breast becoming thick, discoloration of breast’s skin, selling of lymph nodes – especially, those on your armpits, pulling-in of either of your nipples or both, skin of breast(s) getting dimpled, etc.
Of these dimpling of skin resembles a coarse peel of orange. Such a skin condition may also turn red and / or inflamed. In case of dark-skinned women, this color change is difficult to detect; however, in case of fair-skinned women, such changes are easily visible.
It is quite likely some males may also get breast cancers. In case of men, early signs of breast cancers are retraction of your nipple(s), a sudden formation of bump or lumps, an inexplicable discharge from men’s nipple(s), formation of rashes as well as puckering of skin of breast(s).
Breast Cancer Test
Mammography is one of the well-known and time-tested diagnostic tests to detect incidence of cancers in the breast(s). Your treating team at the diagnostic facility administer low-strength radiations of x-rays; the strength is maintained at a substantially lower level of intensity than those used for scanning harder sites like say, bones. In case of mammography, rays are fully ionised prior to exposing them onto the breast(s).
Breast cancer test such as mammography helps map the dimensions and texture of breasts; these tests primarily aim at detecting abnormal or erratic growth patterns. Here, the intensity of x-ray radiations is offered at strength hovering in neighborhood of 18.5 keV.
Breast cancer tests like mammography are either offered on a three-dimensional suite or a two-dimensional equipment. Scans done using ultrasound scanning equipment offer a finer detailing of breasts and its dimensions.
In a few stray instances, advanced levels of scanning – such as a magnetic resonance imaging i.e., MRI scan – is taken to infer the incidence of breast cancers. Such scans are also done as part of surgical oncology – where a lump or cancerous tissues are eliminated through surgical protocols.
Mammography Test
3-D or three-dimensional mammogram is done along with a basic mammogram. This may trigger health risks caused by a double exposure to radiation used for conducting such tests. One of the recent breakthroughs is the use of digital receptors; these have successfully replaced films. These outputs are of a higher resolution and helps assess breasts with added clarity. Digital mammography has gained widespread acceptance both among caregivers as well as patients.
Photon count(s) works based on densities of tissues of your breast. This form of technology helps differentiate between breast-tissues. A dedicated test for assessing milk-secreting glands is called galactography; here, scans are used to closely observe ducts secreting milk in your breasts.
Most of these tests may involve administration of a radio-opaque substance. All these tests work to detect breast cancer during the time of its onset itself. Needless to state, diagnosing such autoimmune ailments at a preliminary stage helps with timely treatment and aids in arresting further growth of cancerous cells.
Mammogram Test
Mammogram is a diagnostic procedure done to detect cancers of the breast. At a basic level, results coming off this test lets your treating physician know whether added tests are needed to understand about your autoimmune ailment. For example, if the results of mammogram test are indicative of cancerous conditions, advanced testing – say, biopsy or an ultrasound scan is ordered.
Preventive services in the US recommends you to opt for a mammogram test regularly – at least, once in three years. But if you have a clinical history of cancers running in your family, you may have to go for this test once you turn 37 years of age.
Men who are born into families that have risks of cancers – especially, cancer of the breast(s) – odds of developing similar ailments are fairly high. As per secondary data, more than 9 out of 1000 people who are assigned males during the time of birth are diagnosed of cancers – chiefly, cancers in their breasts.
What Is Mammogram Test Cost?
Test cost of mammogram may work as barriers to avail such diagnostic procedures. You can search for subsidised programs as well as schemes which can help lower mammogram test cost to a substantial level. Such programs are designed and delivered by providers whose aim is to increase awareness on cancerous conditions.
Mammogram test cost varies one from state to another in US. It also is a factor of benefits extended through insurance cover. If you are uninsured, 2D mammogram test cost can be availed in the range of $ 220 to $ 350. For 3-D mammogram test, pricing is pegged higher than 2-D mammogram tests. Average cost per test is about USD 647.
Added to the mammogram test, you may have to be prepared for more tests if your test results indicate an anomalous growth. Added tests are ultrasound tests of breast, magnetic resonance imaging of affected sites, and biopsies done of tissues from breasts. Need for more tests is a factor of patients’ age, severity of the breast condition, other ailments – if any and if the condition has spread over to other organs or nearby tissues.
In essence, you are advised to stay wary of changes occurring in your breasts. If you spot a lump or a painful sensation, you are advised to speak to a certified caregiver. As a safety precaution, check your breast through periodic self-examination. Watch out for pains, swellings or change of color of breasts. If one of your breasts is appearing to have either enlarged or shrunk in size, take an appointment from a local healthcare setting – like a hospital or clinic.
Those who have a family history of breast cancers must opt for such diagnostic tests more regularly. You may need to take your doctor’s counsel and go for check-ups once every year. Those who have reached the age of 35 – 40 years must consider increasing the frequency of their visits to doctors. If you aim to have more inputs on breast cancers, talk to a qualified oncologist.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting that intake of a drug(s) or a treatment modality is safe or appropriate. You are urged to consult with a qualified clinical professional and get a treatment plan from her / him for the underlying medical condition(s).
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Shetty B s a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).