Blog Article

INCREASING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS THIS OCTOBER

Posted on October 4th, 2013 in Breast Surgery

Important things to know about mammograms & breast surgery

Nearly one in eight women fall victim to breast cancer every year. Mammograms are an important tool that all women should be using to be better prepared in case the unthinkable happens. Here are a couple things to keep in mind and share with your loved ones this October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It is important for all women to have regular mammograms

Mammograms are an effective way for women to help prevent and detect breast cancer at a treatable stage. While self-checks are also important, there are some lumps and signs of cancer that only a mammogram can detect. With the procedure taking as little as 20 minutes, there is no excuse to avoid having a mammogram, especially when it can help to save your life. Going on a regular basis can help to set a good example to those around you to increase breast cancer awareness and help women beat the disease.

Breast Implants are no excuse to skip mammograms

Women who have undergone breast augmentation or any other form of breast surgery can still safely have a mammogram. It is important for women with implants to speak with their mammogram technician prior to their scan and inform them of your breast surgery. A few more scans may be required to see around the implant, so it is important to inform your technician so that nothing is missed. There are also special techniques, like implant displacement views, being used to help detect abnormal tissue around the implant. You can always ask your breast surgeon for a reference to an experienced mammogram technician as well.

Help by spreading the word

The American College of Radiology (ACR) has created a pretty uniform system to help describe mammogram findings for their patients called the BI-RADS. Help those close to you become well-informed as well by sharing this with them. Click below to speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon if you have any questions about mammograms after breast augmentation or breast reconstruction after breast cancer.