GynoFiles

Five Breast Tests You May Have Never Had: Is breast cancer inevitable? It seems like it is inevitable, for now, 1/7 American women will have it before death. You can catch up on statics by checking out the Am. Cancer Society’s Fact page: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=LRN&dt=5  other cancer facts may be at  Oncolog stat It's most important to follow mammogram guidelines and clinical breast exams with your gyno, but after that there may be other tests that would be useful. I highly recommend our patients with risk factors actually get the last test first, a Gail Scale analysis. I also recommend the Halo breast pap. For those with breast symptoms the ultrasound test is important. And you do not necessarily need a genetic counselor to get the breast cancer gene test, it is done by blood draw and the results come with a very clear pamphlet on what they may mean.However, it is important that you have a physician  whom feels comfortable speakin...

If you feel a breast lump, you should also let your gyno do what is called a clinical breast exam. Studies show that 50-70% of masses felt by the patient or on a physical exam are actually not not seen on mammogram. If  thiis seems confusing remember that on an x ray test, which a mammogram is, only structures which hav3e different shaddow densities will show up. So in breast tissue, which may be on the lumpy side anyway, you may have a mass that is not seen on the mammogram. This is not worrisome per se, but it means the mammogram may not accurately predict what the mass is, so it may be a reason your gyno would recommend a breast biopsy. Ultrasound has been said to be is more accurate than mammogram in young women (those under age 25) and in very dense breasts ultrasound may be more accurate for finding cancers, and the right answer...as to which test you need, has to be decided by your gyno, as based on what is felt, and what other symptoms you have, how long the mass in your...