A family physician in Waupaca commends women who schedule their mammograms, which can detect breast cancer early. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is a great time to remind women to get a mammogram, said Zachary Baeseman, MD, family physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca. However, the importance of breast health should be top of mind all year round, Dr. Baeseman added.
Studies show that a screening mammogram can help reduce the number of women aged 40 to 74 from dying from breast cancer. Mammography uses low-dose X-rays to create images of the breast. These images, called mammograms, help find early signs of breast cancer such as a dense mass or clusters of calcium called microcalcifications. An X-ray of the breast is taken while the breast is compressed and flattened between two plates. There will be some pressure but each X-ray only takes a few seconds.
There are estimated to be 232,670 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women in the United States in 2014. But women should not wait until a problem is detected. Preventive screenings help to detect cancer early before any symptoms have developed.
Chances of getting breast cancer increases with age, Dr. Baeseman said. “The good news is that a mammogram can help us to find breast cancer early, usually a year and a half to two years before a lump is big enough to be felt,” he said.
All women need to get a mammogram, even if no one in their family has had breast cancer, said Dr. Baeseman. “Three out of four women who get breast cancer do not have a strong family history,” he said. “As women get older, their chances of getting breast cancer increase even if no one in their family ever had it. Waiting until health problems become serious is what usually requires more intense treatment and care. Having a mammogram helps to find breast cancer early so treatment can be started.”
To schedule a mammogram, contact your physician’s office.
