October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month therefore the “Assessment of the Month” is dedicated to preventive testing for Breast Cancer.
Name of assessment: Breast cancer screening
What is tested: Breast tissue
Type of test: Mammogram, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and Tissue sampling
Why do you want to do it: Breast cancer screening is important for preventive reasons before a person has any symptoms. Screening can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. Research is trying to better understand which people are more likely to get certain types of cancer and what are the things we do and what in our environment may put us at greater risk for cancer. This information helps doctors recommend who should be screened for cancer, which screening tests should be used, and how often the tests should be done.
It is important to remember that your doctor does not necessarily think you have cancer if he or she suggests a screening test. Screening tests are given when you have no cancer symptoms. If a screening test result is abnormal, you may need to have more tests done to find out if you have cancer. These are called diagnostic tests. Some screening tests are used because they have been shown to be helpful both in finding cancers early and in decreasing mortality from these cancers. For some types of cancer, the chance of recovery is better if the disease is found and treated at an early stage. For more information please reference: http://www.cancer.gov/.
When should I be screened? The National Cancer Institute recommends a self-breast exam as part of your monthly health care routine. You should visit your doctor if you experience breast changes. If you're over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor.
How the test(s) is done:
Mammogram: A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. This test may find tumors that are too small to feel. The ability of a mammogram to find breast cancer may depend on the size of the tumor, the density of the breast tissue, and the skill of the radiologist.
MRI: This procedure uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI). MRI does not use any x-rays.
In women with a high inherited risk of breast cancer, screening trials of MRI breast scans have shown that MRI is more sensitive than mammography for finding breast tumors. It is common for MRI breast scan results to appear abnormal even though no cancer is present. MRI may be used to study breast lumps or enlarged lymph nodes found during a clinical breast exam or a breast self-exam that were not seen on mammography or ultrasound.
Tissue sampling: Breast tissue sampling is taking cells from breast tissue to examine under a microscope. Three methods of tissue sampling are under study:
• Fine-needle aspiration: A thin needle is inserted into the breast tissue around the areola (darkened area around the nipple) to withdraw cells and fluid.
• Nipple aspiration: The use of gentle suction to collect fluid through the nipple. This is done with a device similar to the breast pumps used by nursing women.
• Ductal lavage: A hair-size catheter (tube) is inserted into the nipple and a small amount of salt water is released into the duct. The water picks up breast cells and is removed.
