Mammography and Screening
* Breast cancer screening methods * What is a mammogram * Mammography recommendations * When a mammogram is not enough When a mammogram is not enoughAlthough it is the best screening method widely available for finding breast cancer early, a mammogram (an x-ray picture of the breast) is not the only way a doctor can look at an image of your breast. Sometimes a lump or other breast problem will not show up on the mammogram. Or the mammogram might not give your doctor enough information. In these cases, your doctor may recommend a different method in order to get a better picture. Other imaging tests can provide valuable information that a mammogram cannot. Of these methods, ultrasound is used most often. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and scintigraphy are used less often. All of these tests give your doctor an image of your breast. This image can be analyzed to help your doctor make a diagnosis. These tests are not always able to tell the difference between dense breast tissue, benign (non-cancerous) lumps, and cancer, and they sometimes miss tiny calcium deposits that may be the earliest sign of a tumor. But despite their limitations, these tests — especially ultrasound — can play a useful role in breast cancer diagnosis. What if you cannot afford a mammogram?If you have insurance, most plans cover mammography. Medicare also pays for mammograms. There are many free or low cost programs. For help, contact:
The SW Michigan Affiliate |
