Dr. Richa Garg
DNB (Gen Surgery), MRCS (Glas); Areas of interest: Breast oncoplastic surgery
Screening Mammography
Breast cancer is among the most common cancers affecting women in India today. One in every 22 women is likely to suffer from breast cancer in her life. It is also one of the most feared diseases amongst women.
Screening mammography is the method to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage, when the woman and her doctor cannot perceive it clinically. Mammography is the x-ray of breast. It is performed by pressing the breast in between two plates for a few seconds and exposing the breast to low dose radiation. It is not a painful investigation, but some women find it uncomfortable.
The mammogram is reported by a specialist breast radiologist. If the mammogram is normal, no further investigations are needed. Screening mammograms are then repeated every 2 years after that. If screening mammogram detects an abnormality, consultation with a breast specialist and further investigations to determine the nature of the abnormality are performed till a definite diagnosis is reached. The investigations include ultrasound of the breast, MRI of breast in some cases and needle biopsy of the breast abnormality.
Mammography does not prevent breast cancer but it detects breast cancer when treatment is most likely to be successful. Detecting breast cancer at such an early stage improves the chances of saving the woman’s breast and also decreases the risk of dying from breast cancer.
Who needs mammography and how often?
Every woman above the age of 40 years, who has not had any breast problems in the past and has no family history of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, needs screening mammography every 2 years.
Women who have had breast related problems or have family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer should consult a breast specialist for a specially structured screening program for breast cancer.
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