The most common cancer known among Japanese women is breast cancer. The present situation of the breast cancer in Japan is that both the disease rate and the death rate are soaring up. On the other hand, in United States, though the disease rate is increasing. The death rate is decreasing. What is the difference here?
The reason is thought to be a low rate of medical checkup. Women in their 30's to 50's mean that the children are still little, or want to spend more time on their hobbies, a still very much young generation. They might not be able to make time for the examination, than to say that they are not interested in taking the examination. But just think. Do you think you can leave your children behind? Or, what if you want to enjoy your second life? It might be too late by the time you notice the lump, and it might be even worse after the lump starts to hurt. Go and see the doctor on a regular basis, and by doing so keep the examination rate high. It will in the end, led to decreasing of the death rate.
There are three ways to diagnose breast cancer; physical examination (anammnesis, inspection, palpation), medical imaging (mammography, ultrasonography, MRI), and pathological examination (cytological examination, histological examination).
Each examination on itself cannot detect the symptoms exactly, so several types of examination must be performed to judge with comprehensive results. The category for breast cancer checkup is physical examination and mammography. When diagnosed for a close examination, generally ultrasonography and MRI will follow, and pathological examination will be the last to be performed. There are regions where ultrasonography is already included in the category for breast cancer checkup, such as Chiba Prefecture. Breast cancer checkup is carried out in each autonomy, and there are regions where checkup is free of charge, or if not free, at a very low cost.
Exactly what kind of an examination is a mammography? Many of you might have heard it as a painful procedure. Mammography examination is an x-ray test that has the highest sensitivity for detecting breast cancer. Expose to radiation from x-ray cannot be avoided, but the body exposed is only partial, and the effect of it on health is thought to be almost none. But pregnant women, women who may be pregnant, or women breast-feeding their children should have a word with the doctors before the event.
To separate the pathological change in the breast from the overlaid mammary glands, the breast will be compressed together with a paddle and the platform, and spread out evenly. The pressure on the breast may accompany pain to some patients. (Generally, four images - one image per each breast, from top-to-bottom view and an oblique side view - will be taken.)
By compressing the breast, it is possible to eliminate the overlays of mammary glands, fat, or blood vessel inside the breast with lower x-ray dose, and see more clearly if an abnormality is found. The machine is set not to apply more than fixed amount of pressure, and the patient will be asked to tolerate for a while, but the test in all will be finished in about 15 minutes.
Upon deciding to take the examination, it is necessary to look for facilities that will perform the test. In Japan, NPO (Nonprofit Organization) Central Committee on Quality Control of Mammographic Screening evaluates the accuracy management of mammogram. Moreover, nowadays, there is certification authorized for physician, technologist, and facility for quality mammogram, so you can safely choose a facility to receive a qualified test. Check the NPO Central Committee on Quality Control of Mammographic Screening to search for the nearest facility around you, and pay them a visit initiatively.
