Friday, Oct 22, 2010
Gulf News
I had no idea there would be a problem
Dubai On the way to the hospital to have my first mammogram, I was feeling a bit nervous.
Some women say that the procedure is painful and uncomfortable; needless to say I wasn’t looking forward to it at all. I was curious and nervous at the same time.
First, I met the radiologist, who explained the mammography procedure to me.
I’m 30, there’s no history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer in my family (although there is a history of other types of cancer) and I hadn’t previously found any lumps in my breast.
Having said that, although I’ve even written about how important self-examination is, I can’t remember the last time I conducted a self-examination. I’ve never found anything that I thought was a breast lump before.
Although the radiologist I met was a man, all the radiographers (who operate the mammogram machine) are female as a rule. This is designed to make the female patients feel more comfortable.
The radiographer was very nice: she explained what would happen and what I would need to do, plus how I would need to position myself on the machine. A mammogram machine is like an X-ray machine, which typically takes images of each breast from the top and side. You have four images taken in total. I had to remove my necklace and glasses before the images were taken, so the metal didn’t interfere with the pictures. The radiographer placed a heavy skirt around my tummy to protect my body.
The process
It was a bit awkward trying to get in position for the side images to be taken, but you only have to hold the position for a second. I was quite surprised that the whole procedure only took 10 minutes and it didn’t hurt at all.
Afterwards, the images are sent via computer to the radiologist, who analyses the results. Presuming everything would be normal, I sat with him as he looked at the images on the screen in front of me. He asked if there was any history of breast cancer in my family, and I said “no”.
This is why I was so shocked when he said that there was an area of concern in my left breast: some calcification and stranding, that needs to be monitored. He advised that I return for another mammogram in two or three months’ time and if the condition has remained the same or if there are any changes, I will need to have a biopsy.
I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t found a lump, I don’t have a history of breast cancer in my family and technically I shouldn’t need my first mammogram for another 10 years (women aged 40 and above should go for a mammogram every year). So for now I need to wait and see what happens. But I’m very glad that I went, because you can’t address a problem if you don’t even know about it.
KAREN DIAS/Gulf News
Time for results
Reporter Alice Johnson looks at the results of her mammogram with ?Dr D. Rajamagesh, radiologist at Medcare Hospital in Jumeirah.
KAREN DIAS/Gulf News
Special equipment
Arshiya Begum, a radiographer prepares a mammogram machine at Medcare Hospital in Jumeirah.
By Alice Johnson?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
