If you’re like most of the population, you have probably committed yourself to some sort of New Year’s resolutions. Every year we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to keep these promises we’ve made to ourselves Sometimes we are successful and sometimes we are not, but the fact that you have verbalized a desire to change your life in one small or large way is enough to celebrate. I will bet that one of your resolutions was to lose weight. That’s a popular January promise and one that is not always met with success, though usually a little guilt. So this year, let’s forget the five pounds and focus on something simple that won’t overload you with guilt. Let’s focus on your health; specifically, let’s resolve to focus on your breast health.
Words like lump, mammogram, and cancer are enough to keep some women from thinking of their breast health first. Like those pesky five pounds, it’s easier to ignore it and find a way to justify its lack of importance due to age, schedules, family history, and fear – the list goes on and on. But the truth is, breast health should be a priority for all women.
If you take the time to go to the gym, eat healthy, and get plenty of rest, why wouldn’t a breast examination be a top priority? Fear is what keeps us from trying new things, including a breast exam.
Where to Begin
The Society of Breast Imaging and American College of Radiology recommendations for imaging screening for breast cancer state that women at average risk for breast cancer should begin annual screenings at age 40. With all of the recent discussions about mammography screening recommendations, it’s easy to be confused. But the fact of the matter is if you are at greater risk for breast cancer due to family history, then talk to your doctor about when you should begin screening. If you are already 40 years of age or older and have not had a mammogram, then discuss your desire to begin screening with your doctor.
There are three basic screening methods used to look for breast cancer: breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms.
Breast Self-Exam (BSE) – Breast self-examination isn’t meant to be an exact science. The purpose of a self-exam is to become familiar with your own breasts. Remember, you aren’t looking for anything specific, you are just learning your breasts so that in the event that something does feel “abnormal,” you will recognize it. It is not meant to replace a Clinical Breast Exam or Mammogram.
Clinical Breast Exam – A Clinical Breast Exam is a breast exam by a health care provider. If it’s not part of your regular medical checkup, then ask for it. If you are 40 or order, schedule your mammogram close to the time of your clinical breast exam.
Mammogram -- A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast done with a special x-ray machine designed just for this purpose. A mammogram can find many cancers before they can be felt.
If you can’t afford a mammogram, Medicare and most insurance plans will cover it. And remember, when you have your mammogram at The Rose, your insurance-paid mammogram will assist women who are uninsured or underinsured by offsetting the costs of their mammogram. Contact The Rose at (281) 484-4708 to schedule your mammogram.
Forget about those resolutions and make a simple promise to yourself to be more involved in your personal health. That’s a promise you are sure to keep.
About Dr. Parsons
Dr. Ward Parsons is the Lead Interpreting Physician and Radiologist at The Rose. He is an internationally known educator in Breast Imaging. Since 1992 he has been a regular speaker at Dr. Laszlo Tabar's Advanced Screening and Diagnostic Mammography Courses in the U.S., Canada, and overseas. His clinical interests include screening mammography, diagnostic breast imaging, clinical breast ultrasound, minimally invasive breast intervention, and breast imaging technology.
