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All you need to know about Digital Mammography

 

All women fear being diagnosed with breast cancer. However, there is still hope in the fight against this dreaded disease. Advances in prevention, early detection and treatment have resulted in better survival rates.

 

Breast symptoms such as lumps, discharge, pain and abnormalities on mammograms are extremely common. Although only a small percentage of these symptoms turn out to be caused by cancer, they produce a great deal of anxiety and worry among women.

 

Important Facts:

 

• All women and some men are at risk of breast cancer.
• 1 out of 22 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in India. In fact, one woman is diagnosed with the disease    every 6.5 minutes!
• The risk of breast cancer increases with age.
• Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no other known risk factors.
• Around 8 to 10% of breast cancer cases have hereditary or familial association.

 

When women face a possibly life-threatening condition, they wish to have the best possible care. At HCG Center of Breast Health, we have the most advanced diagnostic tools and leading treatment approaches. After a detailed study we will advise a treatment plan that is right for you.

 

Warning signs:

 

See your doctor if you notice any of these things in your breast

 

• Lump or thickening
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
• Change in the size or shape
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Nipple discharge recent onset
• New pain in one spot that does not go away

 

All your needs are met at HCG’s Center for Breast Health.

 

HCG Team: An experienced team of multidisciplinary professionals

 

If you have breast cancer, then turn to our internationally recognized team of breast cancer specialists. Our comprehensive approach means you have access to an experienced team of surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, counsellors, pathologists, geneticist and nurses.

 

One visit, one location

 

All of the specialists appropriate to your care will see you the same day at HCG Center for Breast Health. Our Tumor Board members will meet for a patient care review session and reach a consensus regarding the best treatment approach for you. Finally, they inform you of the steps they will take to help you lead a healthy life.

 

The world’s best technology at your service

 

Our team of experts is bolstered by cutting edge technology and revolutionary research methods dedicated to helping you live the life your deserve.

 

Compassionate care at every step

 

To support your physical, emotional and spiritual needs, our nursing staff will connect you with experienced social workers, volunteer groups, psychologists, dieticians and genetic counsellors.

 

Screening Mammogram

 

What is a Mammogram?

 

Safe and highly accurate, a mammogram is a low-dose X-ray photograph of the breast. It is used to screen for breast problems, such as a lump.

 

Mammography is probably the most important tool doctors have to help diagnose breast cancer and follow women who’ve had it. Regular screening Mammograms can be one of a woman’s most effective defences against breast cancer.

 

Leading experts, including the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Radiology, recommend a Mammogram every year for women age 40 and older. When breast cancer is found early and is still localized, the relative survival rate at five years is 96%.

 

Types of Mammograms

 

Film Mammograms:

 

- A lady technologist positions the breast between two plates.
- A specialized camera then takes pictures of each breast from two directions. This technique has been used since the 1960s.

 

Digitals Mammograms:

 

- Digital mammography uses the same technique as film screen mammography, except the image is recorded directly into a computer.

 

- The image can then be enlarged or highlighted. It can be stored and sent like other computer files.

 

- X-ray film is replaced by digital detectors similar to those found in digital cameras. Digital mammograms are safe and highly accurate.

 

Advantages of Digital Mammograms

 

Parameter

Breast self examination

Film Mammogram

Digital Mammogram

Size of tumor

Detects lumps>10 mm in size

Detects lumps>5mm in size

Detects lumps>5mm in size

X-ray dose

NA*

More than digital

Minimal amount – safest

Frequency

Monthly

Annual

Annual

Tissue Type

May miss lesions

May miss lesions in dense breasts

Suitable for any breast type

Time taken for test

3-5 mins

2-3 mins plus film developing time

2-3 mins. No need for films to develop

Comfort level

High, since it is by oneself

Firm pressure

Firm pressure

Diagnosis Accuracy

Very poor

Good

Best

Detection Accuracy

Poor

Good. However, it is hard to see tiny ‘spots’ and subtle forms of early cancer.

Best

Convenience

Very convenient

Convenient

Most convenient

Picture Analysis

NA

Not possible to change image

Image size, brightness, contrast can be changed to see better.

Repeat Mammogram

NA

May need to be repeated, leading to anxiety, higher X-ray exposure, expenses.

May need to return less often since original image can be looked at differently.

Expert Opinion

NA

Cannot be sent to experts easily

Can e emailed to consult even with specialists abroad.

Value for Money

NA

Less

High. Since you may save cost of repeat tests, anxiety is less, image quality is higher.

 

Digital Mammogram – Clinically Proven

 

Digital Mammogram is better for younger women and women with dense breasts. (A review of New England Journal of Medicine, October 27, 2005)

 

Study design: The Digital Mammographic imaging Screening Trial included 49,528 women from across the United States and Canada.

 

Results:

 

1. You should get a digital Mammogram instead of a film Mammogram if you are:
• Younger than 50
• Have dense breasts
• Are pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal (had your last period within the last 12 months)

 

2. The cancers found by digital mammography and missed by film mammography in these three groups of women were more likely to be:
• Invasive Cancer (to have broken through the breast tissue) – which is more serious than non-invasive cancer.
• Medium and high-grade non-invasive cancers – which are more serious than low-grade, non-invasive cancers.
• Node-negative – which has not spread to the lymph nodes?

 

These types of cancers must be found as early as possible to save more women’s lives.

 

Facilities at HCG Center for Breast Health:
• High-Tech Lab
• Digital Mammogram
• PET-CT (High Slice CT Scanner)
• Conformal Radiation
• Genetic testing and Counselling
• All types of Reconstructive Breast Surgeries
• Clinical trials with newer drugs

 

How to make an appointment at HCG Center for Breast Health:

 

For a first visit, it is most helpful if patients can bring all available Mammogram films and reports, pathology reports, slides, doctor’s referral notes and the results of any other pertinent tests or consultations.

 

A patient coordinator at the Center for Breast Health will be glad to help you organize this so the doctors will have everything needed to ensure efficient and expeditious management of the problem.

 

A patient counsellor at the Center for Breast Health helps make appointments to that your case can be evaluated expeditiously by the most appropriate specialists. If you know which specialists you need to see, appointments may be made directly with that section.

 

However, if you need to see multiple physicians for a comprehensive evaluation or if you are not sure which doctors you need to meet, you can call HCG and a patient care coordinator will help arrange coordinate visits with the appropriate specialists.