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Breast cancer: Should not I go to mammography?

Only when the suspicion of a tumor is confirmed, a mammogram is inevitable.
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  1. Fallacy mammography
  2. Do you go to gynecological care every year?
  3. Are you hereditary?
  4. You are in menopause?
  5. What role do the genes play?

Fallacy mammography

Actually, the mammography to protect against breast cancer, but the check gets more and more in the criticism. Important questions and answers for all women.

No more cancer affects more women than breast cancer, claiming 17, 500 deaths each year. No wonder that many rely on mammography screening for early detection - an X-ray examination in which even the smallest tumors can be detected. Since 2005, women between the ages of 50 and 69 have been invited. But now critics are alarming: Are these screenings really useful - or even harming them? The answer depends on your age, whether you are biased and go to the gynecologist regularly. The overview:

Do you go to gynecological care every year?

This is enough for healthy, hereditary non-stressed women. If the doctor discovers something conspicuous when scanning, he first makes an ultrasound. The advantage: The modern devices are so good that 90 percent of the tumors are discovered - and without radiation exposure. Only when the suspicion is confirmed, a mammogram is inevitable.

Are you hereditary?

Then you should go to the mammography regularly. In specialized centers (addresses under www.krebshilfe.de) the doctors work out an individual plan. Usually, in addition to screening, an annual screening is recommended from the age of 30, the combination of ultrasound and mammography has the highest accuracy. The screening images show even the smallest changes in the tissue. Important: Every abnormality is checked. This means that many women will have to wait for further examinations before learning whether they have breast cancer or not. This wait is a huge psychological burden, but unfortunately necessary to be sure. And the doctors agree: The earlier a tumor is discovered, the better the chances of recovery and survival. The statistics show that although the number of new cases of breast cancer increases annually, the mortality rate decreases. Experts say: This is also because in mammography tumors are detected before the lymph nodes are affected.

You are in menopause?

During this time, the risk of developing breast cancer increases. Nevertheless, experts today say that women who regularly take precautionary care can do without the screenings. Important: Anyone who receives hormone treatment should take the hormones (estrogens, progestins) in the form of gels or patches and not as tablets. Because studies show that this form of treatment does not increase the risk of breast cancer.

What role do the genes play?

Certain genes can increase the likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer by as much as 80 percent. If breast cancer has already occurred in the family, you should seek advice from a center of German Cancer Aid. A blood test provides information about the personal risk, the doctors then develop a tight network of control measures.

As a precaution, some patients go much further, as a TV documentary (see TV tip left) shows. Miriam (41) was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago - her mother had died from it at the age of 56. After the therapy, Miriam was healed, but her genes have a high risk of recurrent disease throughout her life. When her younger sister Vanessa (34) also suffered from breast cancer, Miriam decided to get her breasts and ovaries removed as a precautionary measure.

Young menopausal women should only go to mammography if abnormalities have been detected on ultrasound.

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