Essential things to know About Breast Cancer

 

We all know that breast cancer is very critical and fatal. Women not only feel frightened, but also face many types of troubles and there suffering starts when a lump is detected in their breasts. Many women can’t even imagine that they have breast cancer. Indeed, many women ignore minor symptoms and never go for mammograms, which is a big mistake. Did you know? Breast cancer is the number one cause of death in women aged 35 to 54 years.

Lumps are often cysts or areas of normal tissue

According to a report, lumps are often cysts or areas of normal tissue, even a small or minor lump may be cancer that is hidden within dense breast tissue on a mammogram. That is why it is advisable to choose mammogram because it is the best thing to detect any abnormality.

What is a Mammogram?

It is a low-dose x-rays of the breast that have been used for screening since the 1980s. It is reliable and an effective way to detect breast cancer. Hence, always choose a facility that is certified and recognized for  Mammograms.

Most women avoid it because they still believe

 Most women avoid it because they still believe that it is of no use; however, it must be noted that the early detection of cancers by mammography simply reduces the risk of death due to breast cancer for women aged 40 to 74 years. Even ultrasound is not a replacement for mammography. Hence, it should not be avoided at any cost.

Also, make it a point to maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet to stay away from such diseases.

Read more about breast Cancer.

Let Us Discuss About Some Basics of Dense Breast

We all know that breasts contain glands, fibrous tissue, and fat and dense tissue is made of glands and fibrous tissue, which makes it difficult to detect. Indeed, you will be surprised to know that dense tissue blocks x-rays. Did you know? Breasts are unique and can change over time.

It comes as no surprise that each woman's breasts

However, it comes as no surprise that each woman's breasts are different. According to some experts, some women's breasts are almost all fat, some have very little fat, and most are in between. However, as per some doctors, dense breasts may become less dense with age and menopause.

Breast density can only be determined by

Breast density can only be determined by the doctor or you say a radiologist who has the ability to examine the mammogram images and analyze them for some defects. They can also use computer software in order to accurately measure the overall breast density.

More than half of women under the age of 50 have dense breasts

Since more than half of women under the age of 50 have dense breasts, it becomes essential to know about it and get the screening done. Most women explain that their breast become heavier after pregnancy and becomes larger when they feed their child.

Did you know? Smaller breasts tend to be dense, and larger breasts are more often relatively fatty, but there is wide variation from person to person. According to some experts, women should never ignore mammography and always consult their doctors for any type of irregularities.

 

 

5 Reasons to Consider 3D Mammography yearly

There have been many advancements in Medical Technology. Medical Fraternity endeavors to make cutting edge imaging equipment and test for predicting disease at the earliest possible moment. 3D mammography to be better than traditional 2D Mammography. We have listed the significant advantages of 3D over conventional 2D Mammography.

1. Fewer callbacks

Whenever you call back women for further imaging process, to spot the abnormalities, they rarely appear. With the inception of 3D Mammography, the callback rate has been reduced by 29.7%. 

2. Less Radiation Exposure

With the introduction of 3D Mammography, there has been a 32% decrease in the number of additional images obtained, due to which patients are less exposed to radiation.

3. Higher Cancer Detection

According to findings, 16% of invasive cancer remains undetected with 2D Mammography, but this Undetection rate has been reduced to 3% with 3D Mammography. 3d Mammography has dramatically improved the possibility of detecting as compared with conventional 2D Mammography.

4. Better for dense breast tissue

It showed significate good results in women with dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue depicts the proportion of fat, connective tissue, and glands on the 3D mammogram. It just portrays how the breasts look on a mammogram, not how they feel. A dense breast consists of a large number of glandular and connective tissues and less number of 

5. Better Visualization fatty tissues. 

With 3D Mammography, radiologists screen the better visualization of breast and depict any architectural distortion with them. It is observed that 47% of women who Undergone surgery for architectural distortion was estimated to have breast cancer.

Is Your Breast Density Is The Major Cause Of Your Concern?

 

There are many myths about dense breasts. Most women believe that dense breast means cancer and they should immediately undergo the cancer treatment. However, there is one fact that if you are using contraceptive methods, or if you used one for years in the past, should you be worried because it may link to breast cancer.

Talk to your doctors immediately and choose mammogram

Here, contraceptive means anything such as pills, injections, a ring, an intrauterine device. Hence, you should talk to your doctors immediately and choose mammogram for the detection of any such element. It will also give your complete peace of mind as well as relief.

Women experience different types of breast pain

According to some reports, many women experience different types of breast pain (also know nas mastalgia) during their life, which they often ignore. They often feel pain due to breast swelling, it waxes and wanes during the menstrual cycle, and even pregnancy, which they consider normal; however, it must be noted that breast pain is rarely a symptom of cancer, still you should not ignore it and go for a mammogram to clear all your doubts.

Breasts are composed of:

·        lobules, which produce milk

·        ducts, or you say tubes that carry milk to the nipple

·        fatty tissue, similar to fat in other parts of your body

·        fibrous connective tissue

Did you know?

 Because any minor mistake can cause havoc and put your life in trouble. Did you know? An imbalance in fatty acids within cells plays a role in breast pain. Besides that, there could be many conditions that may cause breast pain such as injury, medication, infection and even Costochondritis. Some women also experience heavy pain due to their problem of arthritis in the neck. Therefore, they should not worry.

Breast density – It is classified on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least dense and 4 being the most.

It is essential to talk about any sort of breast pain

Hence, we can say that it is essential to talk about any sort of breast pain with your doctor. They will take a careful history to check the condition of your breast. Your risk for breast cancer will also be assessed at the same time. They can evaluate your shoulders, and upper back. You may also be suggested to go for a mammogram to check the occurrence of any lump.

Suggest your some good lifestyle approaches

Your doctor may also suggest your some good lifestyle approaches to keep your breast in the best possible shape. They may recommend wearing a supportive bra and a sports bra for exercise. They may also ask you to avoid taking caffeine or nicotine to get some relief.

Home treatment options

They may also suggest home treatments like warm compresses, ice packs, or light massage, and occasional use of NSAIDs or acetaminophen for complete pain relief. Hence, we can say that your should not avoid any pain or discomfort in breasts.

 

 

Let Us Talk About Your Dense Breast

We all know about dense breast tissues. Having dense breast tissue is common among women. In a nutshell, it's a normal and common finding. According to a report, breast tissue may be called dense if you have a lot of fibrous or glandular tissue and not much fat in the breasts. Here, it must be noted that breasts are made up of lobules, ducts, and fatty and fibrous connective tissue.

It is advisable to check the density of your

You will be surprised to know that some women have dense breast tissue than others. If you suspect of having dense breast, then it is advisable to check the density of your breasts on mammograms. Here, make it a point that breast density is not based on how your breasts feel, as well as it is not related to breast size or firmness.

Proper screening is recommended

According to doctors, women who have dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer, which is a matter of great concern. However, it is unclear at this time why dense breast tissue is linked to breast cancer risk. That is why proper screening is recommended to women. On the reports of mammograms, dense breast tissue looks somewhat white in color. And you will be surprised to know that breast masses or tumors also look white; hence, we can conclude that dense tissue can hide small or large tumors.  

Mammograms are highly safe and effective

That is why it is very essential to get regular mammograms. Mammograms are highly safe and effective and can help save women’s lives. If you have a normal report, you should know how your breasts normally look and feel, which is a great option for women of all ages. Fact - Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can develop in one of several areas of the breast. (source)

Breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

And if you see any sort of change, you can report it to your doctor.  Did you know? Breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help find some breast cancers that cannot be seen on mammograms. Hence, we can say that they are also essential when it comes to knowing everything about breast cancer. Indeed, it is quite essential to know that abnormal cells can develop in small sacs that produce milk and even non-glandular tissues.

Fact - Women who are over age 35 and are at high risk for breast cancer or who have had previous benign breast lesions. (source)

However, you do not have to worry each time. You can talk to your doctors regarding your report; you both can find a suitable solution as well as a treatment option.  You can discuss about breast cancer risk and your worries. You doctor may recommend an ultrasound because it is also very useful to detect anything abnormal in your breast. You should understand that if you are at high risk for breast cancer, then also you can take medication to prevent the disease. 

Things to do if you have Dense Breasts

 

Never ever, Never ever take breast density lightly, as it can be deadly. Breast density leads to none other than Cancer. Thus annual mammography is recommended by a large number of doctors. If you think you have dense breast, then here are the things to follow: -

Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of getting breast cancer. Dense breasts are just one of several risk factors for breast cancer. Your doctor will also think about other factors, like your age and family history of cancer.

Different tests may be able to find some cancers that are missed on a mammogram. But these tests are more likely to have a false-positive result (the test is reported as abnormal, but you really don’t have cancer). False-positive test results often lead to unnecessary tests, like a biopsy. Also, you may have to pay for these tests.

Your doctor may suggest one of these tests—

• Breast ultrasound. A machine that uses sound waves to make detailed pictures, called sonograms, of areas inside the breast.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A kind of body scan that uses a magnet linked to a computer. The MRI scan makes detailed pictures of areas inside the breast.

Talk with your doctor about how often you should be screened for breast cancer and which tests your doctor recommends.

 

Breast care: It’s not just about you

 

A woman has to bear a lot of load in her life. She is destined to do various big tasks, which is responsible for the smooth conduct of the world. From Labour pain to menstrual pain, from physical pain to mental pain, a woman naturally suffers the consequences of what she is destined to do. Adding to the consequences the worst of it is the constant fear of breast cancer, which comes in her life initially as just a dense breast According to a survey The breasts are evenly dense throughout (about 40% of women). The breasts are extremely dense (about 10% of women).

Why Is Breast Density Important?

Breast Cancer Risk

Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. The more dense your breasts are the higher your risk. Scientists don’t know for sure why this is true.

Breast cancer patients who have dense breasts are not more likely to die from breast cancer than patients with non-dense (fatty) breasts.

Mammograms

Dense tissue can hide cancers. Fibrous and glandular tissue looks white on a mammogram. So does a possible tumor. Because it’s hard to tell the difference between a tumor and dense breast tissue on a mammogram, a small tumor may be missed.

Who Is More Likely to Have Dense Breasts?

The density of your breasts can change over time. Generally, you’re more likely to have dense breasts if you—

• Are younger.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Are taking hormone replacement therapy.
• Have a lower body weight.

Importance of Breast Compression

One reason some women avoid getting a mammogram is the discomfort they may experience from breast compression during a mammogram. Compression, or “squishing,” of the breast is used to reduce and equalize breast thickness. This allows for a better quality image and a more accurate read by the radiologist. Women may experience some discomfort from compression, but it is necessary to produce a good, readable mammogram.

Compression of the breast helps in:

·         It reduces the radiation dose by decreasing the thickness of the breast.

·         It prevents movement, which helps reduce blurriness and eliminate the need for additional imaging.

·         It separates the breast tissue, allowing for optimal evaluation of lesions that might be obscured by other tissue.

·         It helps in providing uniform thickness to all areas of the breast.

·         Diminishing scatter radiation.

·         Increasing detail by bringing the breast as close as possible to the imaging device.

Be sure to ask your technologist if you have additional questions about compression or other imaging topics.

Though there are various Mammograms which can help the Radiologist to have a detailed view of the breast such as Breast Ultrasound, 3D Mammography, Breast MRI all are described by the doctor. The initial Breast abnormalities can be found with the help of a Mammogram. That’s why doctors advice to have annual Mammography for women.