Most
Women Report Mammogram Pain As Mild
Menstrual
Period and Mammogram Timing Could Affect Pain Levels, Study Finds
Women
often avoid getting mammograms because they are afraid of the pain,
but the fear is unfounded, according to a new study in Archives
of Internal Medicine.
The
findings were based on interviews with 200 women over the age of
40 immediately after they had mammograms. About 72 percent of them had
pain, but most characterized it as mild.
Those
who reported pain rated it on a scale of 1 (no pain) to 10 ("the worst
pain you have ever felt"). The level of pain averaged 4, with 5 classified
"about average." This was similar to the pain intensity caused by a
mild headache or wearing shoes that are a little too tight, the study
says.
Women
Say Mammogram Pain a Concern
"Pain
is listed as one of the main barriers to women getting mammograms,"
says lead researcher Penny Sharp, an associate professor of family medicine
at Wake Forest. "When women get together, they talk about how painful
they are. The topic of pain always comes up."
But,
Sharp adds, "If the pain is not as bad as women have said in the past
... it may not be quite as much of a barrier. Removing any barriers
to women receiving these tests is important."
Sharp
says physicians will be hopeful that the research helps dispel concerns
about pain associated with mammograms and, in turn, encourage more women
to get them.
Of
all the women screened at the center, 94 percent said they probably
would get another mammogram the next year. Only 2 percent, mostly younger
women, said they would not.
Contrary
to popular opinion, the study found no relationship between consumption
of caffeine before a mammogram and the level of pain.
The
study did establish a direct connection between level of pain and the
last menstrual period. Women who had periods within eight to 14 days
of the mammograms reported significantly more pain.
Asked
what aspects of the screening process bothered them, 39 percent listed
waiting for results, compared with 25 percent who cited actually getting
the mammogram.
Researchers
found no correlation between pain during mammograms and age, race, breast
size, body-mass index, or presence of other medical conditions. Even
those who said they were sensitive to pain did not report higher levels
than other women, the study found.
Early
Detection Can Save Lives, Experts Say
Screening
mammograms can detect clues to breast cancer among women who have no
signs or symptoms of the disease, and early detection can be crucial.
Many
experts say research has shown mammogram screenings reduce the number
of deaths from breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute
(NCI) recommends that women 40 and older have mammograms every
one to two years.
Breast
cancer is the most common cancer among American women (behind skin cancer),
and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, according to the American
Cancer Society (ACS).
Nearly
40,000 women are expected to die of breast cancer this year; more than
211,000 are expected to have the disease, the ACS
says.
Dr.
Susan K. Boolbol, a breast surgeon at the Cancer Center of Beth Israel
Medical Center in New York City, says the study reinforces the message
that reports of mammogram pain are greatly exaggerated.
"The
myth associated with mammograms is that they are incredibly painful,"
Boolbol says. "We hear frequently from patients that, 'I thought it
would be terrible, but it wasn't bad at all.'"
"A
lot of what we do is educate patients, and this study adds to the education
of patients," she says. "Anything that helps us educate the public and
helps patients get mammograms is important."
Always
consult your physician for more information.
Online
Resources
Archives
of Internal Medicine
American
Cancer Society
Breast
Cancer Prevention Trial
National
Cancer Institute
National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
National
Women's Health Information Center
|
May 2003
In
This Issue:
Menstrual
Period and Mammogram Timing Could Affect Pain Levels, Study Finds
Women
Say Mammogram Pain a Concern
Early
Detection Can Save Lives, Experts Say
What
Is a Mammogram?
What
Are the Different Types of Mammograms?
What
Is Digital Mammography?
Online
Resources
Other
Resources:
St.
John's Mercy Cancer Services
Find
a St. John's Mercy Physician
Breast
Health Information
Women's
Health Information
St.
John's Mercy Classes and Programs
What
Is a Mammogram?
A
mammogram is an x-ray examination of the breast. It is used to detect
and diagnose breast disease in women who either have breast problems
such as a lump, pain, or nipple discharge, as well as for women who
have no breast complaints.
Mammography
cannot prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but if it raises a significant
suspicion of cancer, tissue will be removed for a biopsy. Tissue may
be removed by needle or open surgical biopsy and examined under a
microscope to determine if it is cancer.
Mammography
has been used for about 30 years, and in the past 15 years technical
advancements have greatly improved both the technique and results.
Today,
dedicated equipment, used only for breast x-rays, produce studies
that are high in quality but low in radiation dose. Radiation risks
are considered to be negligible.
Always
consult your physician for more information.
What
Are the Different Types of Mammograms?
According
to the National Cancer Institute:
A
screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to detect breast
changes in women who have no signs of breast cancer. It usually involves
two x-rays of each breast. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect
a tumor that cannot be felt.
A
diagnostic mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to diagnose unusual
breast changes, such as: a lump, pain, nipple thickening or discharge,
or a change in breast size or shape.
A
diagnostic mammogram is also used to evaluate abnormalities detected
on a screening mammogram. It is a basic medical tool and is appropriate
in the workup of breast changes, regardless of a woman's age.
Always
consult your physician for more information.
What
Is Digital Mammography?
In
2000, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
the first full-field digital mammography system for breast cancer
screening.
Digital
mammography uses x-rays to produce a three-dimensional (3D) computer
image. As a new technology, digital mammography is still evolving,
but shows promise of more accurate screening and diagnosis.
Currently,
a digital mammography machine is much more costly than a film-screen
mammography machine. However, many believe digital mammography will
one day replace film-screen mammography.
Always
consult your physician for more information.
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