Mammography key 'tool' in detecting breast cancer

As the final article in Health Beat's series on breast cancer awareness, Dr. Charles Maile, a radiologist at Bonner General Hospital, lends his expertise in a discussion about the tools he uses to diagnose breast cancer.

I first asked Dr. Maile about mammograms. "A mammogram is a special X-ray of breast tissue," began Maile, "and it is also a very important diagnostic tool."

Maile, who studied radiology at Duke University and practiced in Minnesota before moving to Sandpoint, believes that mammography is the single-most important tool currently used in the diagnosis of breast cancer. "Having an annual mammogram greatly increases a patient's chances of having her cancer found in an earlier, more treatable stage."

The American Cancer Society recommends all women over the age of forty get annual mammograms. Dr. Maile concurs that this, in conjunction with monthly self breast-exams and an annual physical exam by a health care provider, is very important in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

"If too much time lapses between mammograms, a cancer can develop and grow to significant size before it is detected. By making mammograms a yearly routine, women greatly increase their chances of finding cancer at the earliest stage."

Of course, I had to ask the question that all new mammography patients want to have answered: is it painful?

Maile replied, "Unfortunately, mammography can be somewhat uncomfortable or painful. Adequate compression or flattening of the breasts is critical to evaluating the breast tissues and improves the chances of finding small breast cancers." However, a patient can minimize discomfort by not scheduling a mammogram during the weeks of her menstrual cycle when her breasts are most tender.

The most common fear associated with getting a mammogram is that something "abnormal" may be discovered. If a mammography patient is asked to return for additional evaluation, it does not necessarily mean that the patient has cancer. In fact, most often the abnormality turns out to be benign.

Next I asked Dr. Maile about breast ultrasound, which is sometimes recommended to gather still more information. "A breast ultrasound is usually used as a problem-solving tool," explained Maile. "Breast ultrasound is most commonly used to further evaluate an area of concern on mammography, or to evaluate the cause of a lump or pain."

Another question Dr. Maile is frequently asked is whether the radiation that patients are exposed to during mammograms could actually put them at higher risk for developing breast cancer.

According to the FDA, the risk of harm fromradiation is very small when compared to the benefits of early breast cancer detection, especially when you consider that mammography is one of the most carefully regulated diagnostic tools in the U.S.

Dr. Maile concluded his comments by noting that the combination of increased breast cancer awareness, earlier detection and improved treatment has lead to a very positive outcome for women's health:a higher survival rate for breast cancer than ever before.