Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 2.2 million cases were registered in 2020 and close to one in 12 women will get breast cancer throughout their lives, this being the main cause of mortality. in the women.
To increase the probability of overcoming the disease, an early diagnosis is essential. This is where the role of mammograms comes in, which allow breast cancer to be detected as soon as possible and in its initial stages, even up to three years before it manifests itself, according to the Center for Cancer Control and Prevention. Diseases. In fact, as highlighted by breastcancer.org, early detection of breast cancer reduces the risk of dying from the disease by 25 or 30%.
This is a routine test, which many women will go through several times throughout their lives. Therefore, it is convenient to know what it consists of, since knowing in advance how a mammogram is carried out will help to face it with less uncertainty.
For a mammogram, the woman stands up in front of a special X-ray machine. Her breast is placed on a plastic plate and then covered with another, which exerts light pressure. In this way, the breast remains immobile while the X-ray is performed. Then the process is repeated with the side of the breast and then the same procedure with the other breast.
The pressure from mammography is uncomfortable and, in some cases, can be painful. However, the test takes an average of 20 minutes and the discomfort quickly passes afterward.
The European Commission implements the campaign to carry out preventive mammograms for the early detection of breast cancer in the age group between 45 and 74 years. However, they can be performed earlier in the event that there are indications of risk for this type of cancer, for example, in the case of a family history or if abnormalities are observed in the palpations of the breasts.
