About mammographies . . .

Thanks to a lot of hard work by dedicated advocates, breast cancer is probably the most recognized disease in America. But like any other condition, it can be difficult to unravel the medical community’s recommendations about screenings to help find the cancer in its early — and more survivable — stages.A 2009 study that recommended raising the age of routine screening from 40 to 50 received a great deal of press, including in this paper. But many doctors (including those at Sharon Hospital) spoke out against that study, urging their patients to continue with routine screenings. The debate is far from over. The March issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology has now disputed the 2009 findings, calling into question the statistics used. (The critique is technical; for more information, go to www.healthimaging.com.)In addition to the traditional mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast, there are some other options for screening tools.A breast MRI can be done when a mammogram doesn’t provide a clear enough picture. The exam includes the injection of a small amount of a substance that creates contrast, to help identify areas of concern. Breast MRIs are read by a special computer program to assist the doctor in interpreting the test.Ultrasounds are used once a lump has been detected to help determine whether it is a cyst—(fluid-filled) or a tumor (solid). Doctors also use ultrasounds to help determine the location of a lump and to guide them during biopsies.Another screening option is breast thermography. This test uses infrared imaging to detect increased areas of blood flow in the breast. The test uses a camera rather than an X-ray machine, so it is not uncomfortable for the woman undergoing screening. Proponents of thermography claim it can detect smaller cancers than can mammography.So what’s the bottom line? Basically, follow your doctor’s recommendation for screening. Certain risk factors, such as a family history of the disease or race, could lead to a recommendation to begin routine screening at an earlier age or to utilize multiple screening technologies.The radiology department at Sharon Hospital offers a number of resources on its website at www.sharonhospital.com. Of particular interest is a tool at www.cancer.gov that calculates a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer during the next five years.More than anything else, doctors stress that breast cancer is very treatable — some claim that as much as 95 percent of breast cancer is treatable with early detection.