The breasts serve an important biological function for human females. During the process of pregnancy and child birth, a number of different hormones interact in the woman’s body. These hormones also initiate the production of breast milk. Milk is essential for a new born baby as it will be the only source of nutrition for the baby in the initial weeks of his or her life. Milk production is therefore the primary function of the breasts. For humans, the breasts also play an important role in determining the physical appearance of a woman. The breasts are also important organs when it comes to the sexual response and satisfaction of a woman.
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer to affect women. It is also one of the most successfully treated forms of cancer because of relatively high detection rates. The reason for high detection rates is the fact that the breasts are external to the body. Therefore, a manual examination of the breasts is possible. During this type of examination, the woman will press and massage the breast tissue to check if there are any abnormal lumps present. These lumps could be inconsequential, but they could also be cancer tumors. Once lumps have been detected, the woman should have her breasts examined using a mammogram procedure. A mammogram is a test used to produce an image of the internal structures present within the breast. Using this test, the presence of any abnormal tumor material can be detected. The tumor may also be biopsied later on to check for malignancy.
The mammogram test preparation is usually very basic. The woman only has to present herself in the clinic at the time of testing. There is no diet restriction associated with mammogram test preparation. The doctor may enquire about the stage of the woman’s menstrual cycle as part of mammogram test preparation. This is done to ensure that the test is not performed during a period when breast tenderness may be an issue. As part of mammogram test preparation, the patient should avoid applying any oils or creams to the area. The only other important aspect of mammogram test preparation is the clothing worn. The top needs to be removed for mammogram screening.
The chances of cancer recovery reduce with time. Therefore, regular mammogram screening is essential to ensure that any cancer is caught early enough. Early diagnosis is the key for successful treatment to be undertaken. You could consult your doctor when checking for mammogram testing locations that are closer to the area where you live.