Do I Really Need a Mammogram?

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women, and understanding your personal risk factors can help to avoid becoming a part of this demographic. Getting screened for abnormalities is an easy first preventative step you can take. RCA Diagnostics outlines a quick-guide to breast health:

1. Understand your personal risk:

Risk factors of breast cancer can include your gender, age, breast density and genetics. Women have a higher chance of getting breast cancer than men, as do women over the age of 60. Family history that includes ovarian and breast cancer in female relatives can also raise the risk, along with having a particular genetic disposition. Women with dense breasts have also been shown to have an increased risk. Understanding your personal risks and how your lifestyle impacts these risks can help you in the long run.

2. Get screened:

A mammogram x-ray is an effective form of detecting early signs of breast cancer. The procedure generally takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes and is relatively painless. During your first screening appointment, you will undergo a mammogram procedure where the breast is compressed under two plates in order to create a clear image of breast tissue. It is recommended to get a mammogram every one to two years starting at age 40.

3. Preventative measures:

Practicing self-screening can also help with early diagnosis. RCA Diagnostics recommends that women take a moment each month to self-screen. They recommended that women begin this exam in their early twenties and look for abnormalities such as lumps, bumps, redness, changes in nipple size and abnormal excretions.

RCA Diagnostics offers women’s imaging that provides detailed images of the internal structure of the breast tissue of both men and women. More information about mammogram screenings is available at www.radiology.ca/services/mammography.

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