Kenny Contreras, academic at the School of Medical Technology of the U. Andrés Bello, explained details of the important examinations that are important when it comes to investigating breast cancer in advance.
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The breast cancer It is the leading cause of cancer death in women in Chile and it is estimated that preventive examinations such as mammograms and breast ultrasound decreased by 61 percent during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
According to report data “Impact of the pandemic on cancer-related outpatient services”, carried out by the School of Public Health of the U. de Chile together with IMED, at least 5,325 exams were stopped taking each week between March and August 2020.
These tests are of major importance when it comes to investigating this disease in advance and avoiding death. But there are still few women who do not know all the details of this type of check-up.
Kenny Contreras Mena, academic of the subjects of Radiodiagnosis and Radiotherapy of the School of Medical Technology of the U. Andrés Bello explained everything you need to know about mammography and breast ultrasound.
What are preventive breast cancer exams (mammography and breast ultrasound)?
They are considered screening or routine examinations, which allow early investigation in the mainly female population, morphological and physiological alterations of the breast that can lead to or be breast cancer. It allows you to act in a timely manner, and thus reduce your mortality. Mammography is a radiographic image obtained by the use of low-energy ionizing radiation, which provides 2D information. On the other hand, breast ultrasound is an exam that does not use ionizing radiation, but that allows us to obtain more information about the tissues that make up the mana (adipose and glandular).
From what age should they be done and who should do it?
Mammography should be done in women 40 years of age or older, unless you have a family history and must be done at a younger age. Example, if the mother in a family was detected breast cancer at 40, the daughter should have the exam 10 years earlier (at 30). Instead, a breast ultrasound should be done in people younger than 40 years old. These age limits are precisely intended for the radiological protection of the young patient, due to the use of ionizing radiation.
Are these types of exams at risk?
The use of ionizing radiation to obtain a mammogram always carries a risk (stochastic effects), for the same reason, the personnel handle radiological protection rules for the patient, and for the same. Some of them are breast compression, low exposure techniques, armored protections, short working times, distance, etc. In contrast, ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation.
Mammography should be done in women 40 years of age or older, unless you have a family history and must be done at a younger age.
What is the next step, in case a woman appears disturbed in an exam?
In patients 40 years of age or older, if the mammogram is altered, and it is diagnosed with a BIRAD of 3 or more, already in classification 3 it is suggestive of malignancy, so the behavior is that a breast ultrasound should be taken and a biopsy performed . Also the controls that were annual should be shortened to 6 months.
Are Chilean women responsible for performing these preventive examinations?
With technological development, more information, and powerful public and private programs, prevention has become widespread. But there is still the fear or myth that mammography is painful or that it can be harmed by the use of radiation.
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