Last month was the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness and to raise funds for cancer research. BreastCancer.org says that, “About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2016, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.”

Many important cancer issues and topics are discussed during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but one is stressed most is the dire need to get a yearly mammogram. A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray picture of the breast.  According to The American Cancer Society, women should get a yearly mammogram starting at age 45 and then women can switch to every 2 years starting at age 55. No matter what a women’s age is, women need to let their doctor know about any changes to their breasts.

The American Cancer Society shared the following tips to find the breast screening plan that is best for you.

Where to go: Find a center that specializes in mammograms. The US Food and Drug Administration certifies mammogram facilities that meet high professional standards of quality and safety. Ask to see the FDA certificate if one isn’t posted near the receptionist’s desk when you arrive. And when you find a facility you like, stick with it. Having all your mammograms at the same facility will make it easier for doctors to compare images from one year to the next.

When to schedule: It’s best to schedule your mammogram for the week after your menstrual period. Your breasts won’t be tender or swollen, which means less discomfort during the x-ray and a clearer picture.

What (and what not) to wear: Wear a 2-piece outfit because you will need to remove your top and bra. Do not apply deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, lotion, or ointment on or around your chest on the day of your mammogram. These products can appear as white spots on the x-ray.

 What to expect: The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes. The breast is compressed for a few seconds while an x-ray picture is taken. The breast is repositioned (and compressed again) to take another view. This is then done on the other breast. Flattening the breast tissue, while uncomfortable for some women, provides a clearer view of the breast and lessens the amount of radiation needed to take an x-ray picture.

 Getting the results: You should get your results within 30 days. If you don’t, you should call to ask about them. If doctors find something suspicious, you’ll likely be contacted within a week to take new pictures or get other tests. But that doesn’t mean you have cancer. A suspicious finding may be just dense breast tissue or a cyst. Other times, the image just isn’t clear and needs to be retaken. If this is your first mammogram, your doctor may want to look at an area more closely simply because there is no previous mammogram for comparison.

 What you pay: Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and almost all private insurance plans now cover annual mammograms, with no co-pay or other out-of-pocket costs. Medicaid also covers mammograms. For uninsured or low-income women, free or low-cost programs are available. Some programs are held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, while others are offered year-round. Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to find a program near you.

BreastCancer.org
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics

American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/features/what-to-know-about-getting-a-mammogram