Making sense of an abnormal Mammogram

Making sense of an abnormal Mammogram

Taking care of your health and making sure you are healthy and your body is functioning the way it should be is very important at all times. You should not wait till you are not feeling well or when you are having some kind of symptom which does not seem natural before you get yourself checked up on time. Of course, you doctor is the best guide when it comes to making sure you have taken all the necessary tests in accordance with your age and health history.

One of the most common tests that you are asked to perform is a mammogram. After the age of 40 a woman should get a breast mammogram done to make sure her breasts are healthy and they have not developed any unusual lumps. If for some reason a lump is found during your check up then the next step to be followed will be to make sure the lump is harmless and that it does not have any cancer cells on it. Your doctor will see to it that you get the proper biopsy done to rule out any danger at the earliest. The sooner you are able to have the results, the better for you and your peace of mind.

There are different methods of having a biopsy done and one of them is with the help of a syringe. The process is not very painful and it is like taking an injection. The syringe will collect fluids from the lump and then they will be tasted for their characteristics. The process is very simple and the results will come back to you in about two or three days. There is another form of biopsy where the needle utilized is thicker, as the lump may be of a regular size and there are doubts that the smaller needle may not give the proper results. This method is a bit more painful than the first one; however, the results are more or less same as before.

You can also have a biopsy done where the needle is not guided by touch, but by sight. It is done through laparoscopy and sometimes this procedure is done on very small lumps that may not be easily found otherwise. The procedure is called Stereotactic needle biopsy. Lastly, if your doctor has decided that the lump found in your breasts should be removed whether it is malignant or not, then you will be asked to undergo a biopsy surgery where you will be operated by a surgeon to remove the whole lump and then of course, that lump will also be sent for analysis.

Understanding your state of health, the possibilities available and the meaning of the procedures will always help you become stronger and have more patience before you jump into any kind of conclusions about the possible results. Knowing that finding a lump on your breasts through a mammogram does not necessarily mean breast cancer and understanding why you are being given different options to the procedures involved is very important and it makes things less scary.

Breast Cancer – A very difficult experience

Related current health articles

• Necessity for Awareness of cancer (0)
• Breast Cancer – Ways to handle the situation (0)
• Breast Cancer – A very difficult experience (0)
• Importance of Breast Self Massage (0)