M A M M O G R A M S
Screenings save lives
SOME
excuses hold up. Alarm
clocks do occasionally fail, and tires
do go flat.
But when it comes to taking care of
your breast health, no excuse will do.
That’s especially true when the
excuse is based on misinformation.
Here are three reasons women often
give for not getting mammograms—
along with the facts.
1
“I don’t have time.” The truth is,
a mammogram takes only
about 20 minutes. You can
usually make an appointment
for a time that is convenient
for you.
2
“It will hurt too much.” There
may be some discomfort, since your
breasts need to be flattened slightly
to get the best x-ray picture—but
that’s only for a few seconds. If you’re
still menstruating, time your
mammogram for a week after your
period, when your breasts are likely
to be less tender. Also, the technician
can make adjustments if it truly
hurts too much.
3
“I don’t have any symptoms or a
family history of breast cancer.” Not
having these risks may lower your
chances for getting breast cancer, but
they don’t rule it out. Most women
who get breast cancer do not have
a family history of the disease. And
early breast tumors—which mam-
mograms can detect—may be too
small to feel and may cause no
symptoms.
Because regular screening with
mammograms saves lives, the
American Cancer Society and other
experts recommend that women
have yearly mammograms starting at
age 40.
Six things you should know about breast cancer
w
Breast cancer is second only to lung
cancer as the most common cause of
cancer death in U.S. women.
w
Men get breast cancer too, though not
very often—less than 1 percent of breast
cancer cases are in men.
w
Being physically active decreases the
risk of getting breast cancer.
w
Since 2000, the rate at which women in
the U.S. are being diagnosed with breast
cancer has decreased and the rate at
which they are dying from the disease has
dropped too.
w
Researchers are studying the genetic
differences between women who get
breast cancer and those who don’t, which
may lead to better treatment options.
w
With early-stage breast cancer, life
expectancy is the same for all women,
whether they have breast-sparing
surgery—also known as a lumpectomy—
or a mastectomy.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National
Cancer Institute
To find out more about
mammograms or to schedule your
appointment, call
951-769-2142
.
New
partnerships
SGMH campus
goes smoke-free
Emergency room
forms—be prepared
A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL L I V I NG
FAL L 2 015