As women around the country attempt to understand new guidelines for breast cancer screening, there was a warning today from the FDA which serves as a reminder that you need to be careful about where you actually get a mammogram and the quality of the facility.
The warning came from Food and Drug Administration which resulted in the temporary closure of a mammography facility in Brownsville, Texas. The FDA said that the facility’s mammogram images did not meet the “clinical image evaluation criteria,” which help state agencies determine which facilities to approve. The agency called the imaging at this clinic a “serious risk to human health,” and they’ve suspended the clinic from operating for the time being.
Read MoreThirty-years-old may seem a little young for breast cancer screening, but a new study suggests that, for some women, it might be necessary. Researchers looked at more than 5 million mammograms and concluded that screening beginning at age 30 may be beneficial for women with specific risk factors. The study was presented this week at the Radiological Society of North America.
We want to make it clear that the study, in no way, suggests that all women should begin screening for breast cancer at age 30. A conversation with your doctor is crucial in determining whether you could benefit from early screening.
Information about when to get a mammogram for women without high risk
Currently, The American Cancer Society recommends that women be given the option to begin annual mammograms at age 40 – and that all women, regardless of risk factors, start annual mammograms at age 45, and there’s a constant back-and-forth between medical professionals about when the appropriate time to start screening is.
Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, on when to get a mammogram
There is a wide consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. If you’re older than 55, you can choose to continue your annual mammograms or opt to have one every two years, says Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School. If you’re post-menopausal, Dr. Lehman says you may be able to reduce the frequency of your mammograms to every other year.
Bottom line: our medical reviewers tell us mammograms are needed regardless of your family history because most women with breast cancer have no family history or other identifiable risk factors. Getting mammograms regularly at the recommended intervals can help spot early signs of anything that may be potentially harmful. This way, you and your doctor can address them right away.
When You're Called Back After a Mammogram: Breaking Down the Numbers
While it may seem terrifying to be called back after a mammogram, it may not necessarily mean you have cancer. More images, including MRI or ultrasound, may be required if the initial pictures aren’t clear. For instance, dense breasts, which we discuss elsewhere in this section, can make it hard to distinguish between fatty tissue and a tumor.
Before you let fear or panic take over, remember not to jump to any conclusions. A callback could mean a number of things, but typically, it just means that your doctor wants to investigate something further, to rule out at anything serious.
Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, on getting called back after a mammogram
Here are how the numbers on screenings break down, according to Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Clinic at Mass General Hospital in Boston: Of the approximately 10 percent of women who get called back, the vast majority will be absolutely fine after more imaging. Only 20 percent of those will need a biopsy and in the end, just five percent of that group will be found to have cancer.
Still, that period of uncertainty is never an easy time. Waiting to hear more about something that could or could not be out of the ordinary is never easy. But Dr Lehman says the goal is to resolve any uncertainties as quickly as possible. In the meantime, fill your time with healthy distractions until you receive the answers you’re looking for. And rest assured that it most likely means nothing at all.
It’s no secret that no two breasts are alike, not even on the same body! Some are bigger, some are smaller, some vary in shape, and some have different sized nipples and shades of areolas.
But I bet you didn’t know that some could be more “dense” than others, too?
So you have dense breasts. Who knew? Probably not you, because there’s no way to tell just by feeling them. Women of all shapes and sizes can have dense breasts it’s very common. What’s important to know is that dense breasts make it more difficult to detect cancer on a regular mammogram. Because of this, some doctors suggest seeking out a facility that offers 3D mammograms. That’s definitely something worth discussing with your doctor.
Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, on dense breasts and mammograms
If you suspect you have dense breasts, ask your doctor if it’s possible in your next mammogram. Typically, they’ll tell you anyway, and suggest the need for a 3D mammogram so early signs of anything potentially harmful can be detected.
But bear in mind that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force a panel funded by the government whose recommendations are followed by many doctors doesn't recognize the need for 3D mammograms. Consequently, some insurance companies may not pay for it unless you get a letter from your doctor stating that it is medically necessary.
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