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Science Forum Index » Environment Forum » Mayo Clinic: Mammograms can break breast implants ...
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| Author |
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| Ilena |
 Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:59 am |
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http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=FC5332DF-AF1C-4812-81711A4E32EB40A6
Breast implants: Do they affect breast self-exams?
I'm 28 years old. Last year, I got breast implants. Do I still give
myself the same breast self-exam as before? How does breast
augmentation affect the need for and frequency of mammograms?
Leslie / Louisiana
The breast self-exam is the same for women with breast implants as for
all women. You'll likely be able to feel lumps in the same way as
before — possibly even more easily. The breast tissue itself doesn't
feel any different because of breast implants.
Implants separate the breast tissue from the chest wall by pushing up
the breast tissue. Women with breast implants actually may find it
easier to do a breast self-exam because they don't feel their ribs as
readily.
Breast cancer screening guidelines are the same for women with breast
implants as for all women. Many women start examining their breasts
regularly at about age 20. The American Cancer Society recommends:
Clinical breast exams once every three years between ages 20 and 39
and annually for women age 40 and older.
Yearly mammograms starting at age 40.
Optional breast self-exams (BSEs). Talk to your doctor about the
advantages and disadvantages of BSEs. If you choose to perform BSEs,
have your doctor check your technique. Promptly report any new breast
symptoms.
If you have a family history of cancer or other factors that put you
at high risk, you may need to start mammograms at an earlier age.
Women with breast implants may want to consider getting their
mammograms at a medical facility that does a large number of
mammograms annually. The procedure may be slightly different and the
images more difficult to interpret in women with breast implants. For
this reason, they may benefit from a radiologist experienced in such
examinations.
There's a very slight risk that the implants may rupture during a
mammogram. But the benefits of mammography in the early detection of
breast cancer outweigh this risk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information on this controversial issue, please visit:
www.BreastImplantAwareness.org
Years of working with women with breast implants, I have found that
there may well be more than a "slight" risk that the implants may
rupture.
Further, more radiation is required each time an implanted woman is
tested.
Further, all the breast tissue may never be seen with implants in
place.
These very real risks make the decision to have implants placed
something to be very, very cautious about. |
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