In recent years, as the incidence of breast cancer is increasing year by year, people pay more attention to breast cancer. Good treatment of breast cancer is based on early diagnosis of breast cancer. Therefore, today we would like to introduce you a kind of mammogram, which is a powerful tool to catch breast cancer. 1. What is mammography? Mammography is a non-invasive examination method, which is called mammography. It is similar to the principle of chest X-ray, but its imaging of breast soft tissues is more accurate than that of ordinary X-ray, so it is one of the most important examination tools in breast cancer diagnosis nowadays. Mammography is used not only for breast cancer screening, but also for breast diagnosis, surgical evaluation and follow-up of breast cancer patients. Some studies have shown that mammography can detect early breast cancer lesions up to 2 years earlier than conventional physical examinations. 2.Is the radiation in mammography harmful to human body? Many patients may worry that the X-rays used in mammography may be harmful to their health. Nowadays, the amount of radiation used in a mammogram is very small, even less than the common chest X-ray used in medical examinations. And according to studies in the United States, the amount of radiation received during a mammogram is only equivalent to the amount of background radiation we receive in the natural environment for three months. However, considering that young women’s breast glands are more sensitive to radiation and that the dense glands affect the diagnostic effect, it is generally recommended that women over 35 years of age undergo routine mammograms as part of their physical examinations. 3.What is the procedure of mammography? The mammography machine looks like a rectangular box with a square plate in front of the machine and a compression plate above it, which are used to compress the breast during the examination and to adjust the angle of the examination. During the exam, the diagnostician will instruct you to position your breast on the plate and sandwich it between the plate and the compression plate. The pressure is then increased between the two plates in order to flatten and thin the breast tissue as much as possible to obtain a clear image. For some patients, this may cause mild pain, but most of it is tolerable and the discomfort often lasts only a few seconds. However, if the pain is significant, you should inform the operator and reduce the pressure as soon as possible. Generally, two x-rays are taken from two different angles, and then the procedure continues on the other breast, taking about 10 minutes to complete. 4. What are the signs of breast cancer in mammography? Breast cancer mainly appears as a nodular mass and microcalcifications on mammography. The malignant masses of breast cancer often appear as irregularly shaped hyperdense areas with burr-like changes around them; while microcalcifications are an important indication of early breast cancer, characterized by clusters of calcified dots like mud and sand or distributed along the ductal segments. Of course, the results of mammogram need to be judged by a professional radiologist. If the results indicate breast cancer, your doctor will guide you to undergo further examinations based on the results of the image. 5.Is there anything to note about mammography? Although mammography is a relatively safe test. However, because the fetus is very sensitive to radiation, it is important to make sure you are not pregnant before having a mammogram. It is also possible for a breast cancer lesion to be undetected by the mammogram due to normal breast tissue, a condition we call a false negative. There are reports that close to 5-15% of patients may have false negatives, so sometimes you will need to undergo other tests such as breast ultrasound, MRI and puncture biopsy under the guidance of a specialist to clarify. 6.When should I have a mammogram? If breast cancer is detected early, most patients are able to achieve a long-term cure. In the United States, it is generally recommended that women have annual mammograms starting at age 40. According to the current data, the average age of breast cancer in China is 5-10 years earlier than that in foreign countries, therefore, it is generally recommended to start mammography at the age of 35. Therefore, it is generally recommended to start mammography at the age of 35 and to have the examination once every one to two years. For women at high risk of breast cancer (menarche earlier than 12 years old, childbirth later than 30 years old, family history of maternal breast cancer, etc.), they need to consult a specialist for earlier breast cancer screening. As mentioned above, mammography is a very safe and effective screening method for breast cancer, which can detect lesions 1-2 years earlier, thus enabling patients to be diagnosed and treated at an early stage of breast cancer and greatly improving their prognosis. However, we should also know that mammography is not a panacea, and only under the guidance of a specialist and in combination with other necessary diagnostic methods can breast cancer be better screened and diagnosed.