The Importance of Annual Mammograms

Breast cancer is common among women and early detection will lower the risk of death. Detection in the past has been dependent on signs of lumps or other abnormalities, but that could be too late and fatal for many women.

Mammograms are the best method for early diagnosis of breast cancer. It is a form of x-ray of the breast and it is found to be accurate and safe. A mammogram is not a preventive measure and neither is it a cure, but is only a detection method. Breast cancer is rare among the young and therefore it is recommended that women over 40 years undergo an annual mammogram. If they are at high risk, even earlier is better. If detected early before the cancer can spread to other parts of the body, the treatment will not require removal of the breast. Those who undergo annual mammograms reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. The radiation risk for those over 40 years is minimal.

Breast cancers if undetected can cause so much trauma and pain, both body and soul, to a person, as well as their families. The financial burden may cripple the families’ resources too. There will be a chain reaction to such a situation. Starting with surgery to radiation, there is no knowing what one will have to undergo and the tension one has to live with, wondering what would happen next, is very distressing indeed. Mothers with young children or little ones will find their situation even worse, as they may not have the strength (especially after radiation treatment) and nor the will power to take care of their children. In most cases they may not even be able to find others to help them take care of their children nor have the financial backup to find baby sitters to do so. The home environment for themselves and their families can become so depressing and these situations can even become the reason for breakups in marriages, though that should not be the case.

In countries like the USA where health insurance is a must in the absence of welfare, it could turn the whole situation into a nightmare. It may be that the family existed on a dual income and it may come to a stage when the cancer victim will no longer be able to work and that could even mean that they may not be able to pay their mortgages on their homes or pay on their vehicles, risking the chances of loosing their possessions.

Prevention is better than cure. Early detection of breast cancer can spare so much of pain and agony and most importantly, untimely death. Mammograms carried out annually will be able to detect the cancer early and thus prevent death and pain to victims as well as their families.


http://www.bizymoms.com has been helping women for over a decade to start their own home based businesses. Bizymoms now provides women and their families with information on breast cancer. Please visit the Bizymoms Cares- Breast Cancer Awareness section http://www.bizymoms.com/cares/breastcancer for more information.

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