But in truth, our imagination makes mammography so much worse than it really is. Judy Drainville, assessment coordinator for the Ontario Breast Screening Program for North Western Ontario, says most women remark, "That's it?" when it's all over. "Mammograms shouldn't be a big deal," she says. "The test is simple. The expectation far exceeds the event."
Why don't women go?
Dr. Verna Mai, director of screening programs for Cancer Care Ontario, says Statistics Canada found three common reasons women didn't go for their mammogram:
• They didn't know it was necessary;
• Their doctors didn't recommend one, so they didn't think they needed it;
• They just hadn't gotten around to it.
Drainville says many women fear something will be detected, even though catching breast cancer early is your best bet for survival. Many women also don't bother scheduling their mammogram because they think there is pain involved. "Women think it's going to hurt, and we need to dispel this fear," she says.
Who needs to go?
There is no universal mammography standard, but the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation recommends a mammogram for women between the age of 50 and 69 done at least every two years.
If you're under 50 or think you might have an elevated risk (family history of cancer, previous breast disorders, etc.), talk to your physician about how often you should have screening done.
Dr. Donald Henderson, radiology coordinator for the Ontario Breast Screening Program for North Western Ontario, warns that risk factors rarely determine who gets breast cancer. "Keep in mind even if you do not have an elevated risk, 90 per cent of all breast cancers are sporadic. Women [over 50] with no known risk factors still should have regular mammography," he says.
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