The skilled OBGYN doctors that make up the Women's Specialists of Plano in Plano, TX (http://obgynplano.com) offer advanced mammography screening for patients. They recently offered this Q & A for patients who have questions and concerns about mammograms. Mammograms are an important step to help diagnose breast cancer, lump in the breasts, and other conditions of the breast.

1. This article was originally published on http://obgynplano.com on January 4, 2011
Mammograms | Diagnostic Mammograms | Lump in the Breast | Plano, Dallas
It is the New Year. Do you know when your next mammogram will be? The skilled physicians that
make up the Women’s Specialists of Plano offer the following information for those who are new to
the mammogram process.
What are the Recommendations for Screening Mammograms?
According to the National Cancer Institute, “Women age 40 and older should have mammograms
every 1 to 2 years. Women who are at higher than average risk of breast cancer should talk with their
health care providers about whether to have mammograms before age 40 and how often to have
them.”
What is a Mammogram?
A mammogram is used to check for breast cancer in
the breast. It is an x-ray image and will show if there
is any sign (such as a tumor, mass, lump in the
breast, etc.) of cancer as well as if the breast tissue
appears normal. A mammogram can be done
digitally or via film. This common mammogram
procedure is also referred to as a screening
mammogram where several images are taken of
each breast. The images help physicians screen for
breast cancer when lumps cannot be felt externally.
When a mammogram is ordered because a woman
has felt a specific lump in the breast, or because she
has another symptom, then it is referred to as a
diagnostic mammogram. This mammogram is helpful
in order to rule out cancer; oftentimes these lumps
are benign cysts or tiny deposits of calcium. A
diagnostic mammogram takes longer to perform than
a screening test because more images and x-rays
are needed and they are typically taken at a variety
of angles. Diagnostic mammograms are also used
on women where screening becomes more
challenging; such as in the instance where breast
implants are in place.
What are the Benefits of Screening Mammograms?
Most women will have their first screening mammogram around age 40; at this young age, early detection of
breast cancer can often be seen with screening mammography alone. For women who have a history of
breast cancer in their family, or who have a history of cysts and benign lumps, and for those who have had
breast augmentation, a diagnostic mammogram may be ordered from start.
Is there a Downside to a Screening Mammogram?
A screening mammogram does not necessarily mean that cancer will be found. These mammograms can
detect cancerous tumors that often cannot be felt by touch (such as a lump in the breast), but in 20% of the
cases, screening mammograms will miss breast cancers that are present.

2. False-Negative Results vs. False-Positive Results—What Does This Mean?
False-negative mammogram results occur when cancer exists within the breast at the time of screening,
but it is not caught during the screening mammogram. False-negative results occur in younger women
more so than older women because younger women have higher breast density—which is the primary
cause of a false-negative result. On the other hand, older women will have more fatty tissue in the
breast. High-density breast tissue, as well as tumors, will show up as white on the x-ray, whereas fatty
tissue is dark making it easier to detect a true cancer cell. False-positive mammogram results occur
when a physician or radiologist concludes that a mammogram is abnormal, even though no cancer
exists. To conclude a false-positive mammogram, further analysis will need to occur to rule out cancer.
This is done usually with a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound or a biopsy.
What are the Benefits of Screening Mammograms?
Most women will have their first screening mammogram around age 40; at this young age, early
detection of breast cancer can often be seen with screening mammography alone. For women who
have a history of breast cancer in their family, or who have a history of cysts and benign lumps, and for
those who have had breast augmentation, a diagnostic mammogram may be ordered from start.
Can the X-Ray Imaging from Mammograms Cause Cancer?
This is a concern for many women. Although repeated exposure to x-rays can be harmful, mammograms
require just a very small dose of radiation. Exposure is low and the benefits of receiving a mammogram
completely outweigh the risks of this exposure. It is very important that woman alert their health care
provider if there is any possibility they are pregnant as this could be dangerous for the unborn fetus.
What is Digital Mammography?
Advances in technology have produced digital mammograms, in which the images taken are
computerized and shown on a screen, rather than recorded on film using an x-ray cassette. This allows
faster and more accurate stereotactic biopsy, and reduces the patient’s discomfort, requiring her to
remain still for a shorter period of time. Digital mammography is still in its infancy, but some studies have
shown that women with denser breasts, post-menopausal women, and women under the age of forty
may benefit from digital mammograms. Otherwise, the digital images are said to be “comparable” at this
stage with traditional film images.
What are the Risks for Developing Breast Cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, women who exhibit the following traits are at an increased risk
for developing breast cancer:
• Age—as a woman ages, her chances for developing breast cancer increase
• A personal history of breast cancer
• A family history of breast cancer
• Hereditary genes (For example, BRCA1, BRCA2, and others)
• High breast density
• Reproductive and menstrual history—Women who had their first menstrual period before age 12 or
who went through menopause after age 55 are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Women who had their first full-term pregnancy after age 30 or who have never had a full-term
pregnancy are also at increased risk of breast cancer.
• Long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy—(those who have combined estrogen and progestin
hormone therapy for more than 5 years).
• Exposure to radiation
• Excessive use of alcohol
• A heavy body weight/obesity The Women’s Specialists of Plano offers
• Lack of exercise. mammogram, sonogram and 3D-imaging services in-
office. Schedule your mammogram today by calling
972-379-2416.