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Features for Senior Citizens
Tips for Women Who Fear Mammogram Offered by Female
Breast Surgeon
With breast cancer detected early, chances of
survival are extremely high
 Sept. 17, 2007 – Many older women, facing the
annual mammogram, delay or even skip the date because they fear the
discomfort. There are, however, a few simple things a woman can do to
ease any possible discomfort she may feel during this brief imaging
procedure, according to female breast surgeon at a Baylor Regional
Medical Center near Dallas.
Hold off on coffee, tea, even soft drinks
Caffeine has a tendency to make a woman’s breasts tender and lumpy,
potentially making the mammogram uncomfortable. Avoid drinking coffee
and tea, unless it’s decaffeinated, for a week prior to a mammogram.
Other items containing caffeine include diet drinks, chocolate and even
some common over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Be sure to read the
label of any OTC medications before you take them prior to a scheduled
mammogram.
Steer clear of perfumes, talcum powder
Deodorant, talcum powder, perfumes and oils may leave a residue that
can be picked up by the X-rays, obscuring the mammogram and possibly
interfering with the results. Ultimately, this means a woman could need
a second mammogram. Do not use these products on the day of the
scheduled mammogram.
Avoid periods of breast tenderness
“Most women’s breasts are naturally more tender or slightly swollen
during the week prior to their menstrual period,” says Alicia Starr
M.D., medical director, Women’s Imaging Center at Baylor Regional
Medical Center at Plano. “Try to avoid scheduling your annual mammogram
during this time.”
A sensible dressing tip also makes the process a
little easier
Wear a two-piece outfit with a blouse or sweater on the day of the
appointment. While a woman’s choice of outfit will not affect the
outcome of her mammogram, most women find it easier and faster to slip
off a blouse instead of removing a one-piece dress.
Mammography is a low-dose X-ray of the breast that
is currently the most effective way of finding breast cancer in its
earliest and most treatable stages. Any possible discomfort during a
mammogram should not prevent women from scheduling this procedure.
During the procedure, performed by a female
radiologic technologist, a woman’s breast is placed on a ledge and
gently compressed in order to see all the tissue and any possible
abnormalities.
Doctors recommend a baseline mammogram between age
35 and 40, and yearly mammograms starting at age 40, sometimes earlier
if a woman has a family history of breast disease.
In the U.S. alone, more than 250,000 people are
diagnosed with breast cancer every year. But if detected at an early
stage, the chances of survival are extremely high.
“Stage I breast cancer is typically very
treatable—women do well,” says Lynn Canavan, M.D., a breast cancer
surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano.
In addition to the annual mammogram, women should
perform a monthly breast self-exam beginning at age 20, and a woman’s
physician should perform a clinical breast exam at least every three
years up to age 40 and yearly after age 40.
Editor’s Notes:
Go to www.baylorhealth.com to learn more about
breast cancer risk and treatments.
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano brings
residents of North Texas the benefits of an acute care medical and
surgical facility that meets adult health care needs. As part of Baylor
Health Care System, Baylor Plano offers patients access to innovative
treatments and clinical trials performed through Baylor Research
Institute in such areas as oncology and cardiovascular services. For
fiscal year 2007, Baylor Health Care System will report $390 million in
community benefits to the Department of State Health Services.
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