Women
Report Small Amount Of Pain During Mammograms
Some Women Anticipate
Problems
Women often avoid
getting mammograms because they are afraid of the pain,
but the fear is unfounded, according to report in the Archives
of Internal Medicine.
The study was based
on interviews with 200 women over the age of 40 immediately
after they had mammograms. About 72 percent of them had pain,
but most characterized it as mild.
Researchers say they
hope the research helps dispel myths about pain associated with
mammograms and, in turn, encourages more women to get them.
"Pain is listed as
one of the main barriers to women getting mammograms," says
lead researcher Dr. Penny Sharp, an associate professor of family
medicine at Wake Forest University. "When women get together,
they talk about how painful they are; the topic of pain always
comes up."
But, Dr. Sharp adds,
"If the pain is not as bad as women have said in the past ...
it may not be quite as much of a barrier. Removing any barriers
to women receiving these tests is important."
Mammograms
Save Lives
Screening mammograms
- X-rays of the breast - can detect clues to breast cancer among
women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease, and early
detection can be crucial.
The National
Cancer Institute (NCI) points to research that
has shown mammogram screenings reduce the number of deaths from
breast cancer for women aged 40 to 69, especially those over
age 50.
The NCI
recommends that women 40 and older have mammograms every one
to two years. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends
that women 40 and older have mammograms every year.
Breast cancer is the
most common cancer among US women (behind skin cancer),
and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, according to
the ACS.
Nearly 40,000 women
are expected to die of breast cancer this year, and more
than 211,000 are expected to have the disease, the ACS
estimates.
Many
Women Said Procedure "Not Bad at All"
In the current study,
those who reported pain rated it on a scale of one (no
pain) to 10 ("the worst pain you've ever felt"). The level of
pain averaged four, with five classified "about average"
- resembling the pain intensity caused by a mild headache or
wearing shoes that are a little too tight, the study says.
Of all the women screened
at the center, 94 percent said they probably would get another
mammogram the next year; only 2 percent, mostly younger women,
said they would not.
Contrary to popular
opinion, the study found no relation between consumption of
caffeine before a mammogram and the level of pain.
The study did establish
a direct connection between level of pain and the last menstrual
period. Women who had periods within eight to 14 days of the
mammograms reported significantly more pain.
Asked what aspects
of the screening process bothered them, 39 percent listed waiting
for results, compared with 25 percent who cited actually getting
the mammogram.
Researchers found
no correlation between pain during mammograms and age, race,
breast size, body-mass index (BMI) or presence of medical
conditions. Even those who said they were sensitive to pain
did not report higher levels than other women, the study found.
Dr. Susan K. Boolbol,
a breast surgeon at the Cancer Center of Beth Israel Medical
Center in New York City, says the study reinforces the message
that reports of mammogram pain are greatly exaggerated.
"The myth associated
with mammograms is that they are incredibly painful," Dr. Boolbol
says. "We hear frequently from patients that, 'I thought it
would be terrible, but it wasn't bad at all.'"
"A lot of what we
do is educate patients, and this study adds to the education
of patients," she says. "Anything that helps us educate the
public and helps patients get mammograms is important."
Always consult your
physician for more information.
Online
Resources
(Our Organization
is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)
American
Cancer Society
American
Society for Clinical Oncology
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National
Cancer Institute
National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
National
Women's Health Information Center
|
June 2004
Women
Report Little Pain From Mammograms, Study Shows
Mammograms
Save Lives
Many
Women Said Procedure "Not Bad at All"
Breast
Health: Three-Step Plan for Preventive Care
Online
Resources
Breast
Health: Three-Step Plan for Preventive Care
Although there are
some women who are at higher risk, the fact is that all women
are at risk for breast cancer.
That is why it is
so important to follow this three-step plan for preventive care.
Although breast cancer cannot be prevented at the present time,
early detection of problems provides the greatest possibility
of successful treatment.
Routine care is the
best way to keep you and your breasts healthy. Although detecting
breast cancer at its earliest stages is the main goal of routine
breast care, other benign conditions, such as fibrocystic breasts,
are often discovered through routine care.
Step 1. Breast
Self-Examination (BSE)
A woman should begin practicing breast self-examination by the
age of 20 and continue the practice throughout her life - even
during pregnancy and after menopause.
BSE should be done
regularly at the same time every month. Regular BSE teaches
you to know how your breasts normally feel so that you can more
readily detect any change.
Changes may include:
-
-
a discharge other than breast
milk
-
-
skin irritation or dimpling
-
nipple abnormalities (such
as pain, redness, scaliness, or turning inward)
If you notice any
of these changes, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible
for evaluation.
Step 2. Clinical Examination
A breast examination by a physician or nurse trained to evaluate
breast problems should be part of a woman's physical examination.
The American
Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women between
the ages of 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast examination
by a health professional every three years. After age 40, women
should have a breast examination by a health professional every
year.
A physical breast
examination by a physician or nurse is very similar to the procedures
used for breast self-examination. Women who routinely practice
BSE will be prepared to ask questions and have their concerns
addressed during this time.
Step 3. Mammography
Mammography is a low-dose x-ray of the breasts to find changes
that may occur. It is the most common imaging technique. Mammography
can detect cancer or other problems before a lump becomes large
enough to be felt, as well as assist in the diagnosis of other
breast problems. However, a biopsy is required to confirm the
presence of cancer.
Since there is controversy
among cancer organizations regarding when to begin having mammograms,
as well as how often, talk with your physician about a mammography
schedule that is appropriate for you based on your overall health
and medical history, risk factors, and personal opinion or preference.
According to the National
Cancer Institute, women in their 40s and older should
begin having a screening mammogram on a regular basis, every
one to two years. But, the ACS recommends that
by age 40, women should have a screening mammogram every year.
(A diagnostic mammogram may be required when a questionable
area is found during a screening mammogram.)
Both organizations
suggest that women who may be at increased risk for breast cancer
should talk with their physicians about whether to begin having
mammograms at an earlier age.
Always consult your
physician for more information. |
