It is quite important for all women to understand how to take care of their mental and physical health. There are quite a few issues that women are more susceptible to than men, a major one being breast cancer. We know that it can be quite scary to go get a checkup, even if you are not worried about anything. There are quite a few myths that surround mammograms. It is vital that these myths are debunked so that you are more at peace with this procedure. It is important to get yearly mammograms after the age of 40 in order to help catch and prevent breast cancer from taking its toll. Let us look at a few myths that need to be addressed.
I am not at risk for breast cancer since no one in my family had it
This myth might make you feel more at ease, but you should be aware that this is not the case at all. You need to get regular checkups after a certain age, your family history will only increase or decrease the frequency of these checkups. You should get checked more often if you have a family history of breast cancer, while you should get checked at least once a year in your 40s. If you wait till you see symptoms, it might be too late to nip it in the bud, and cancer might be more advanced.
There is too much radiation in a mammogram
Fun fact, mammograms use an extremely small amount of radiation that is safe on medical levels and necessary to find the tumor, if any. This is a screening tool that has been approved by governments along with other organizations. You can even get 3D mammography to make sure your results are more accurate. This gives your doctors a clear view of your breast tissue. Moreover, we are already exposed to a ton of natural radiation in our everyday lives.
All types of cancer can be detected by a mammogram
This is quite sad to hear, but a mammogram can not completely tell you whether you have cancer or not. Do not get us wrong, a mammogram is quite important for women, but there are certain limitations. If your breast tissue is quite dense, it can be hard for the doctor to figure out if there is cancer hiding beneath the tissue. There are other imaging methods that can be used synonymously with mammograms, such as a breast MRI or breast ultrasound.
I do not need a mammogram every year
If you are someone who is over the age of 40, you definitely need to do this annually. Even if you got a normal report the previous year, it does not mean that it will be normal this year as well. Your chances of survival can be increased greatly if you go for regular checkups.
It is important to bust these myths that make women afraid of getting a mammogram done. You can use this list to help you be better informed about this aspect of your health.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
