| Who should undergo breast screenings? What are | | | | changes in their breasts to their respective health |
| the common screening methods available today? | | | | care providers. Most females are diagnosed with |
| These are the two questions every female should | | | | breast cancer not because of hereditary reasons |
| know, regardless of age. As breast cancer is | | | | (only 5 to 10 percent). They do not have a family |
| becoming more common, due to rise of | | | | history, in fact. |
| population all over the world, despite | | | | There are five common screening methods |
| advancements in technology in curing this | | | | involved. The first is self explanatory, breast self |
| malignant cancer. | | | | examination ('BSE'). Secondly, it is 'CBE', clinical |
| Women over the age of forty should undergo | | | | breast examination. This is done by the doctor. |
| routine mammography screening and clinical breast | | | | Usually, it is performed annually as doctors may |
| exams because risk (of breast cancer) increases | | | | detect certain changes you may have missed. |
| with age. Therefore, it is highly important that | | | | Thirdly, the screening mammography is the |
| early detection is made. This is especially true if a | | | | current "Gold Standard" for screening and |
| patient is an elderly woman. Statistics have shown | | | | detecting 90% of breast cancers at very early |
| than an average age of diagnosis is only 49 years | | | | stages. Next, the ultrasound. Sometimes, a |
| of age. This is bad statistics. More younger | | | | mammogram may fail to detect a breast |
| women should screen for breast cancer. | | | | symptom. Ultrasound devices utilize sound waves |
| Older women should discuss with their doctors or | | | | that can detect any lumps or tumours. The last |
| physician to include a breast examination with a | | | | option is biopsy, also the most dangerous. Fluid or |
| mammogram or ultrasound in their annual health | | | | tissue is removed from the breast and is |
| profile. Meanwhile, woman of 20 years of age and | | | | diagnosed to find out if there is cancer. However, |
| older should practise monthly breast self | | | | biopsy increases the risk of developing the actual |
| examination. They should then report any unusual | | | | breast cancer itself. |