Save Your Life and Your Breasts for Free
By DEBRA ALFARONE
Updated 2:45 PM EST, Mon, Oct 12, 2009
If just the word “mammogram” has you running for the door, please keep reading. This story could save your life, or the life of one of your female friends.
Some women could have a certain kind of breast tissue that could act as a smokescreen when it comes to detecting cancer and not even know it.
it’s called dense breast tissue, Dr. Kristen Zarfos, of St. Francis’ Comprehensive Breast Health Center in Hartford, said. It’s detectable in mammograms, even though the tissue itself could obscure the detection of breast cancer in other tissue. Dr. Zarfos says this happens in up to 10 percent of women's mammograms.
But the good news, Dr. Zarfos said, is that a brand-new bill aims to educate women about this.
“The bill says that in a mammogram report, it should clearly say that you have dense breasts, discuss this with your physician so you can see if you need further tests,” she said.
Those further tests might include a screening ultrasound. Depending on family history, your insurance company might be required to foot the bill.
Dr. Zarfos recommends that every woman get a mammogram. The American Cancer Society recommends a baseline mammogram starting at age 40, she said.
“But indeed, we individualize it. If a woman has very dense breasts, a very strong family history, then perhaps she should have it at 35. If her mother has breast cancer and her sister, maybe even as young as 30,” she said.
And if you don’t have health insurance or are under-insured, you can still get a mammogram. Many hospitals, including St. Francis, Bristol Hospital and the University of Connecticut Health Center, offer help through the Charlotte Johnson Hollfelder Foundation.
And if you've read this entire story, and you’re still not sold on getting a mammogram, Dr. Zarfos has a little advice.
“Take some Tylenol before you go in and remember that for 10 minutes of discomfort, you ‘re going to have 364 and a half days of the year of peace of mind," she said.
First Published: Oct 5, 2009 12:40 PM EST
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
