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Breast Ultrasound – A Step Ahead In Breast Cancer Diagnostics
There are diseases that strike women more than men and one of which
is breast cancer. The said disease has continued to terrorize women
30 years old and above. There are also cases wherein women under the
age of 30 have been stricken with breast cancer. This goes to show
that the disease does not discriminate.
The increasing number of breast cancer patients worldwide is quite
alarming. That is why there are cancer organizations that have been
promoting programs that help detect breast cancer at its earliest
stage. Information dissemination drives have proven to be quite
successful in educating people about breast cancer. There are no
definite causes for the disease, but the medical field has offered
possible causes and factors that may lead to the existence of breast
cancer.
It has been emphasized over and over again that early detection of
breast cancer can help save millions of lives. The simplest
procedure is the self-breast examination. This is a combination of
ocular and “touch and feel” examination which will enable women to
detect various forms of breast abnormalities.
During a self-breast examination, women should be looking for lumps
that don’t seem to go away. Any change in the appearance or contour
of the breast is also a warning sign. Nipple discharge and scaling
around the nipple area are also abnormalities that should not be
ignored. If there are indeed abnormalities detected, then it is
imperative to consult a physician who in turn will recommend a
diagnostic test, the results of which will determine if the
abnormalities are indeed cancerous or not.
There are diagnostic tests specifically designed for specific
conditions; for breast, the most important is mammography. Normally,
this is done when there is suspicion of cancer cells in the breast.
In cases wherein there are some abnormalities, a breast ultrasound
is first initiated. It would really depend on the severity of the
breast abnormalities. In most cases, both tests are done.
Breast ultrasound makes use of an apparatus that has a
scanner/transducer that makes use of high frequency sound waves to
capture the image of the internal structural of the breast. That
way, the exact location of the abnormalities can be detected.
The procedure does not require the use of needles or any injections
that is why there is little to no pain. There may be some discomfort
if the breast is tender and it makes contact with the apparatus.
There is little preparation before the procedure. The patient just
needs to lie flat on her back and raise her arms above her head. A
clear gel will then be applied to the affected area; this will help
the transducer to make secure contact with the breast area. The
transducer will then be pressed firmly against the skin. When the
desired image is captured, the examination is done. As such, the
breast ultrasound can be performed within 30 minutes.
The breast
ultrasound
procedure
is beneficial because it allows the physician to see exactly where
the abnormalities are, thereby giving him/her the evidence and the
signal to proceed to the next line of diagnosis or treatment. It can
be done as painless as possible and the results can immediately be
interpreted.
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