Thursday, May 1, 2008

How important is it to get checked for breast cancer


How important is it to get checked for breast cancer?
I know someone whose mother has breast cancer in her side of the family, her sister died from it, but she's scared to get checked because of the possiblity they could find breast cancer. How important is it? It's likely she will get it, because it runs in her family.
Cancer - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
If you care about living a long life, I'd say it's pretty important...
2 :
very important , and she should not be scared because if she does have it and catch it late then she'll be scared
3 :
There has been a lot of press lately about how the radiation in mammograms triggers breast cancer or that by having annual mammograms women are exposed to toxic loads of radiation that can cause breast cancer. There is also the matter of false negatives and false positives. Regular self breast exam is still the safest method. It would be more accurate to say that a susceptibility to breast cancer might run in the family, but without a "trigger" it most likely won't manifest. That trigger for millions of woman has probably been mammograms.
4 :
It's very important to get it checked out straight away! cancer is an awful disease, the earlier breast cancer is caught the better chance for survival. My grandmother was diagnosed with it in 1982, and got it checked out straight away, and she lived until 2002.
5 :
The only way to know if it runs in the family is if someone with breast cancer in the family was tested for it. If her mother or sister tested positive than she can be tested too and from there her doctor will recommend how often she should be screened and when she should start. Without knowing if she tested positive and not knowing her age it is impossible to know how important it is for her to be screened now. The whole point of screening is because the possibility is there, if it wasn’t there is no point in screening. So, I don’t understand her rational. Every woman has a lifetime risk of 1 in 8 for breast cancer. How likely she is to get it depends on her age and which rare gene runs in her family that increases her risk for the disease.
6 :
VERY Important, especially if it runs in the family. If she is old enough for a mammogram she should go for one, every year! She NEEDS to get Checked. There is nothing worse than dying from something that you didn't know! She runs the risk of it spreading, which is even worse! No it's not "Likely". It's a possibility, but not something she needs to put her life on hold for. I am 42 and I was diagnosed with Breast cancer just last week. I didn't even FEEL It. Nor can my doctor. If it wasn't for my annual mammogram and an ultrasound, I would have had not a clue! So Please tell her not to Delay! If she really want to find out, she can get a simple Blood test with Genetic Testing. This will tell her if she has a chance of contracting it.
7 :
Two years ago my friend and I went for our first mammogram because we had reached 50 years old, mine was clear but my friend who checked her breast regularly was found to have breast cancer, it was deep in the breast and could only be found by the xray, it had been there for several years and was slow growing but within 2 weeks she had her breast removed and several lymph nodes, she now has to take several pills per day for the next 5 years before they will give her the all clear so it is important to get it checked out. What would you prefer, to die in considerable pain because you left it too late or get it checked out and it will probably be clear but if there is something there it will be attended to and save your life. Your Choice



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Posted by breast cancer consultant at 11:44 AM