Around 2.3 million cases of breast cancer are reported across the globe every year. Although breast cancer often occurs in women over 35 years of age, it can take any woman in its grip regardless of age, social status, lifestyle, race, and profession. Breast cancer these days is striking women of all age groups no matter whether they have heavily smoked or taken alcohol, or ever taken birth control pills. Although there are a large number of risk factors that can increase the chances of breast cancer, all women are at risk. Even a woman who has never seen or experienced any illness throughout her life can fall prey to it anytime.
Breast Cancer – No Longer a Taboo Subject Now
Breast cancer is no longer a taboo topic now with the growing level of awareness among women and the ever-decreasing cost of digital mammography cost in India. With the growing awareness about this deadly disease, women are getting more proactive towards taking all the precautionary measures to stay away from it, and even if it is detected, timely treatment can give them a new life. Routine self-examinations and mammography screenings or tests conducted in the best hospital for mammography go a long way in finding breast cancer at the earliest stage which is medically considered fully curable.
Early detection of breast cancer not only reduces its seriousness but also makes the treatment shorter and more convincing while increasing a woman’s chance of survival. Yet it is so unfortunate to see that there is no dearth of women who seem to be quite reluctant to take the initiative for mammography screening timely. One of the most common fears is of the unknown. This blog deals with the mental state of such women while outlining what they can expect during a mammography test, and how they can prepare themselves to go for the same. The women who have been highly reluctant to go for a mammography test might get surprised to know that the entire process is not as intimidating as imagined.
The Mammography Screening
Now it’s time to start with how to plan for a mammogram. While planning for a mammogram, choose when your breasts are to the least extent liable to be delicate or tender. This is normally the week following your period. Breasts are generally adept to be tender/sensitive not long previously and during your feminine cycle. Whenever you have got an appointment, you will be told to stay away from the utilization of antiperspirants, powders, moisturizers, creams, or fragrances under your arms or around your breasts upon the day of your mammography test. This is on the grounds that metallic particles contained in powders, antiperspirants, and aromas could be noticeable on the mammogram, making results confounding.
The Day of the Mammography
On the day of your mammography test, you have to strictly avoid wearing all types of small and large pieces of jewelry, since you will be taking off all of them for the test. It would also be good if you wear a two-piece outfit because you will need to take off everything from the waist up.
As for some medicines and OTC formulations, you can take aspirin or any other over-the-counter pain reliever that includes Tylenol or ibuprofen about an hour before the mammography test. They will help ease any kind of discomfort that you might experience during the testing. Once you are in for your test, you will be provided with an examination gown. The doctor will also ask you to take off all your jewelry and clothes from the waist up.
What Happens During the Mammography Screening?
You will be standing in front of an x-ray machine that’s specially built for the mammography screening. One of your breasts will be placed on the platform holding the x-ray film. Attended by a skilled technician, the platform will be adjusted to your height, posture, and position intending to have an unobstructed view of your breast. Your breast needs to be carefully pressed against the said platform making use of a plastic plate so that the breast tissues can be spread out as required. This pressing of the breast is very crucial because X-rays can penetrate the tissue easily when the breast is sufficiently pressed.
You may find this pressing act a little bit painful and uncomfortable. In case you are finding it too hard to tolerate, you need to let the technician know about it. What’s more, during X-ray exposure, you will need to stand still while holding your breath.
After the Mammogram
Once both breasts are x-rayed aptly, the concerned technician will check the images taken, comprehensively. If the images taken are not accurate and visible, the entire procedure will be repeated once again. And, if the images taken are clear and meaningful, then you will be able to dress and come out of the x-ray room. The entire procedure will hardly take half an hour. A qualified and experienced radiologist will comprehensively check the images taken for any evidence of either cancerous or non-cancerous conditions. After the examination of the images is over, the concerned radiologist will send a detailed report mentioning all the findings to your doctor. The doctor will see the reports and suggest solutions accordingly.
Concluding Remarks
With the rapidly decreasing digital mammography cost in India and the availability of the best hospital for mammography in Delhi and other parts of the country, mammography screening is one of the best ways to detect breast cancer at the earliest. This easy and convenient test not only increases the longevity of the patients but also ensures the problem is addressed timely. It is a common notion and well-established fact in medical science that any type of disease including breast cancer can be better cured only if detected at the earlier stages. Therefore, every woman especially those with age over 35 years must go for it unfailingly.