Monogram & other Screening tests for women

Breast cancer is, by far, the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death in women, globally. According to statistics, in India, 1 in 28 women is likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Every year, the month of October is marked as the #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, to increase support for the awareness, early detection and treatment of this disease. Yet, many women are still sceptical about going for routine women health screening like mammograms and question the effectiveness of the procedure. 

This scepticism is often a result of the various myths surrounding screening tests for women especially mammograms, the most common one being that it exposes women to a large amount of radiation, which is harmful and can cause breast cancer. While in reality, the truth remains that the small quantity of radiation that women get exposed to during a mammogram is within safe limits, and its benefits are plenty. 

If you are someone who asks yourself “Do I really need to go for a women health screening and get a mammogram?”, then this article is for you.

Here are the top 5 reasons why screening tests for women like a mammogram is a must! 

• Early detection is the best prevention: A mammogram is used both as a diagnostic and screening tool to detect breast cancer early. While it can’t prevent breast cancer, a mammogram can help detect cancer early when there are more treatment options available, and before it spreads to other parts of the body. Research suggests 98% of breast cancer patients survive when the cancer is diagnosed early and contained to the breast. 

• A scan helps you see what’s invisible to the naked eye: Mammography is a procedure that uses x-ray imaging to examine the breast for the early detection of cancer and other breast diseases. The image that mammography generates is called a mammogram, which can effectively spot changes in the breast tissue and find breast cancer long before one can see or feel a lump forming in the breast. This unique ability makes mammogram one of the best screening tests for women when screening for breast cancers.

• A mammogram can be your one true saviour: Breast cancer, when detected early allows you to get the right treatment at the right time and ensures you get a better fighting chance. You may not even need to go under the knife and get a mastectomy or surgically remove your affected breasts. When detected early, a procedure called lumpectomy may be used to remove only the cancerous growth or tumour while preserving the healthy breast tissue, thus saving both your life and your breasts. Hence a mammogram can help detect the disease early and be your saviour. 

• Screening tests for women like mammogram helps you stay health aware: Women health screening tests like a mammogram is the best way to know whether you are at risk of developing breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and can occur even if one has no family history of the disease. Being a woman and advancing age are the most significant risk factors for developing breast cancer. Hence, a mammogram is not a one-time women health screening but a routine breast exam, which women need to take every year, starting at the age of 40 to take charge of their health. 

• 20 minutes is all it takes to be sure of your breast health: Your health is your biggest asset, and a mammogram can help you protect it. It is the best and one of the safest procedures to help detect breast cancer early. And the best part is that it usually takes no more than 20 minutes for the entire test to get completed. Now spare a few minutes to get your women health screening done, and live a long and disease-free life with your loved ones.  

So, ladies! Put all the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ to rest and schedule your routine mammogram now. Remember, early detection and a mammogram can save lives. Get yourself screened early.