Breast Cancer Survivor Number One On the last day of National Breast Health Awareness Month she posted the following: if you have managed to go all of October ignoring the reminders, this is your wake-up call. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer nearly four years ago. No previous lumps, no symptoms, no family history, not a caffeine drinker, breast fed her babies each nine months. It was only a screening mammogram that provided her with early detection and then the recurrence the following year. She was using the Halloween social media post to encourage her friends to contact their radiology centers and schedule their appointments.
Breast Cancer Survivor Number Two She was so careful for the first 12 years. When her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 57 the daughter knew that put her at high risk. As a result, she made sure that she made appointments at the necessary radiology centers and did the monthly self exams. The last five years, however, were not the same. She slipped into complacency and went several years without a check. Fortunately, however, she was able to notice that a small lump had appeared in her right breast. She went to the doctor and found out that she did indeed have a tumor. After a surgery and seven months of treatment, the results were positive.
Whether or not you are at high risk for breast cancer or another type of cancer, it is likely that radiology centers will be important to your diagnosis and treatment. Radiology imaging centers throughout America help hundreds of patients through information garnered through services like open MRI scans and other diagnostic imaging services.
According to the latest statistics, the year 2015 likely included an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer being diagnosed in women in the U.S. Additionally, statistics indicate that as many as 60,290 new cases of non-invasive, also called in situ, breast cancer were also expected in 2015. Studies indicate that the best way to survive breast cancer is early detection by visits to radiology centers.
Radiology Specialists Often Provide Early Diagnosis and Treatment Plans
If you have never had an MRI before, the process can seem a little frightening. It is comforting to know, however, that 30 million MRIs are performed in America every single year. Because of their frequency, in fact, hospitals and radiology centers follow a very detailed protocol to let patients understand the steps that will be taken. From watching online videos so that the patient understands what will occur to providing detailed instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before the procedure, the details provide both comfort and accuracy.
The advantage to the MRI process, of course, is that it provides a three dimensional image. Creating this image requires a process that can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. The fact that the image can be looked at from a variety of different angles, however, means that doctors can do a more thorough job of looking at the area in question.
Used in breast cancer detection and other scenarios, radiology imaging centers can provide early detection for patients and doctors, as well as detailed images that can lead to the most effective treatment options. These images, for example, can be used to help target radiation points and to monitor the increase or decrease in size of a noted tumor or other kind of growth.
As the month of October, the official Breast Cancer Awareness Month, closes, the social media posts and reminders about getting a yearly exam may disappear. The continued focus on the best healthy practices, however, should not. Understanding your risk factors for various kinds of cancer and working toward healthy eating and exercise habits may help many people avoid the dreaded diagnosis of cancer, but following the protocol prescribed by your doctor for needed medical imaging procedures is essential.
when is your next mammogram scheduled? If you do not have one on your calendar, it is important to talk to your doctor about your risk factors and if you need to schedule a diagnostic service. Healthcare professionals around the country help patients prepare for and undergo these life savings screenings on a daily basis. Make a call today!