Scheduled Visit (Breast Cancer Screening)

Is an important procedure to detect early signs breast cancer. There are multiple test that woman must undergo such as breast mammography, Clinical breast exam, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Breast ultrasound, and breast biopsy. According to American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the 2nd most leading cost of cancer among woman ages 40 and above so screening is very important for people who are at risk of acquiring it. Breast cancer is not solely an illness for woman as men can also acquire the disease. There is a 1% chance that a man can get breast cancer throughout his lifetime.

Who are at risk of developing breast cancer? Among all screening procedure pertaining to breast illness, mammogram is the most recommended by physicians, National Cancer Institute recommends that screening mammogram should be done for woman ages 40 and above every one to two years. If woman is of greater risk of developing the disease baseline mammogram should be done 35 y/o.

Mammography is a non invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis. It involves Compression of the breast to visualize breast tissue to see any lumps and tumor.

Woman who has breast implants is not exempted to undergo mammogram; they are at increased risk to develop cancer because detection of lumps is difficult to find. Technologist should be informed regarding the presence of the implants so that they can perform special technique in doing the procedure (ex: implant displacement views).

Clinical Breast Exam is done by your physician, your doctor will asked you to raise your hand and he will feel your breast, nipple, and under your arm for lumps, he will also check for any abnormal discharge on your breast.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses radio frequency waves utilizing magnetic fields to create a three dimensional images of the breast. MRI is most suitable for woman who has a genetic risk for Breast cancer.

Breast Ultrasound is usually used to confirmed abnormal areas in the breast found in MRI.

Scheduled visit to your physician is important to manage the disease properly. The goal of planned visit is to control the spread of cancer in the nearby lymph nodes and prevent complications.

In the scheduled visit, doctors will assess your blood pressure, auscultation of the heart, lungs, and examine the breast, health education about nutrition, proper diet, exercise, etc. after the assessment, physician will fill will explain his findings to the patient. The doctor will plan another scheduled visit depending on his assessment.