Breast Sonograms-Video: An Alternative to Mammograms
Most doctors recommend that a woman has breast imaging, a baseline mammogram at the age of 40, and then every one or two years after that. Women with certain medical histories, white spots or other conditions are typically advised to go earlier and more frequently. However, despite its widespread acceptance in the medical community, the mammogram continues to be the subject of much controversy as a method for obtaining early and accurate images of Breast Cancer. Now, a new breast imaging reporting and data system is gaining attention in the medical community and beyond.
False Positives
According to researchers at the University of Washington and Harvard Medical School, during a 10-year-period, 1 out of 3 women had mammograms and breast exams which yielded images of Breast Cancer when no breast cancer was actually present. This is an unacceptable error rate that exposes women to the risk of dangerous surgeries, unnecessary biopsies, and extreme anxiety and stress. Conversely, false negatives are also common (up to 15% in some cases) with mammograms, especially in younger women who have denser breast tissue.
Radiation
A mammogram uses moderate doses of radiation to produce an image of the breast's internal structure. In his book, Radiation from Medical Procedures in the Pathogenesis of Cancer and Ischemic Heart Disease, author John Gofman, M.D., Ph.D. indicates that over 50% of deaths from Cancer today are caused by x-rays used during medical procedures. Supporting this statement is a number of epidemiologic studies that have firmly established that x-rays and other classes of ionizing radiation - such as that used to detect Breast Cancer images in mammograms - are a cause of most varieties of Cancer.
Tissue Damage
The forceful compression of the breast against paddles during a mammogram poses a risk of bruising, soft tissue damage, and the rupture of blood vessels. Some health experts also believe that the "squeezing" of breast tissue may dislodge clusters of cancerous cells, thereby facilitating their spread.
Using Power Color Doppler Ultrasound technology, breast sonograms can provide early and accurate images of most highly malignant breast cancers, resulting in life-saving early diagnosis and intervention. According to the American Journal of Radiology, sonography detects four times as many cancers as physical examinations and twice as many cancers as mammography. Another advantage of breast sonograms is that they can be safely and inexpensively repeated to closely monitor areas of concern.
View an actual breast sonogram being performed >>
(Requires QuickTime to view, go towww.quicktime.com to download player.)
Regular breast sonograms can be used as an alternative to mammograms in obtaining Breast Cancer images, thus eliminating the dangers associated with that procedure. Power Color Doppler Ultrasound can also be useful in tracking suspicious growths and evaluating the effectiveness of a Breast Cancer treatment program.
- Can be used as a mammogram alternative to monitor breast health
and obtain clear, accurate Breast Cancer images
- Can be done as an alternative to a needle biopsy, thus avoiding its risks
- Can be easily repeated as necessary for follow-up monitoring
- Completely painless, safe and non-invasive
- Gentle; no uncomfortable compression or distortion of the breasts
- No harmful radiation used during the procedure
- Completed in as little as 10 minutes
- Inexpensive when compared with the costs of a mammogram or biopsy
- Requires no post-procedure medical care or recovery time
"Wow, what an eye opener! No more squishy, high radiation mammograms for me. Dr. Tamburri showed me every millimeter of my breast tissue- what a comfort to see that it is all healthy."
- Marty Kaplan, Santa Monica, CA
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More on Color Sonograms >>
If you're interested in learning more about breast sonograms as an alternative to regular mammograms - e-mail us at PhoenixSonograms@gmail.com. We're happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have about our services.
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