Mammogram tips

1: Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.

2: Use a facility that specializes in mammograms or that performs many (at least three to five) a day. Ask to se FDA certificate showing that the facility meets high professional standards.

3: If you are satisfied with the facility, continue to go there each year so that your mammograms can be compared from year to year. If not, take copies of your old mammograms to a  new facility so they will have them for comparison.

4: Mammograms cost, or a percentage of them, are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health plans. Call the American Cancer Society to find out about the availale of low-cost mammograms in your area.  1-800-ACS-2345.

5: All mammogram facilities are required to send your results within 30 days and to contact  you within five business days if there is a suspected problem. Call your doctor or the facility if you do not receive your results.

6: Only two to four mammograms out of ever 1,000 will lead to a cancer diagnosis. Ten percent of the women may require  an additional mammogram, but only eight to ten percent of them will  need a biopsy. Eighty percent of those biopsies  will  not be cancer.

7: The procedure will require you to undress to the waist, but the facility will provide a wrap for you to wear.

8: Deodorant, powder, or cream under our arms may interfere with quality of the mammogram.

9: Only you and the technologists who positions your breast will be present for the mammograms, and most technologist are women.

10:The entire procedure should take about 20 minutes and should include two views of each breast.

The breast compression may cause some discomfort, which you can lessen by not scheduling a mammogram immediately before or during your period. Tell the technologist if you experience  pain during the procedure.

October is Breast Cancer Month

We have come a long way.

From the time when women were afraid to talk about Breast Cancer to now when we have advertisements on  TV, 

newspapers and other public awareness events.

1 and 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast 

Caner and more than 40,000 people will die from this disease this year along.

While we have much to celebrate in our fight against against , we have much to do.