Great Breakthru in Breast Cancer Detection? 3D Mammography

flickr/georgiahealth

My niece, Ruthie Gray, is a breast cancer survivor. Her doctors say she had several factors in her favor. One of those factors was early detection. Her amazing spirit and incredible family support network were also key factors in her recovery.

Doctors agree that early detection is key in treating this disease which touches about 12% of women here in the U.S. in their lifetimes.

Now, medical science has an amazing new way of looking for this killer; It?s 3D mammography

?

Every year, there are roughly 40 million mammograms performed in the U.S. alone. Of those 40 million, about 1/10 are called back for invasive biopsies. the mammograms detect about 300,000 cases of breast cancer each year. Just in the U.S., about 40,000 women a year die of breast cancer. Now, medical science says new technology, could drastically reduce that number.

From breastcancer.org

Digital tomosynthesis is a new kind of test that?s trying to overcome these three big issues. It takes multiple x-ray pictures of each breast from many angles. The breast is positioned the same way it is in a conventional mammogram, but only a little pressure is applied ? just enough to keep the breast in a stable position during the procedure. The x-ray tube moves in an arc around the breast while 11 images are taken during a 7-second examination. Then the information is sent to a computer, where it is assembled to produce clear, highly focused 3-dimensional images throughout the breast.

Early results with digital tomosynthesis are promising. Researchers believe that this new breast imaging technique will make breast cancers easier to see in dense breast tissue and will make breast screening more comfortable.

Digital tomosynthesis (pronounced toh-moh-SIN-thah-sis) creates a 3-dimensional picture of the breast using x-rays.

Digital tomosynthesis is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but is not yet considered the standard of care for breast cancer screening. Because it is relatively new, it is available at a limited number of hospitals.

Digital tomosynthesis of the breast is different from a standard mammogram in the same way a CT scan of the chest is different from a standard chest x-ray. Or think of the difference between a ball and a circle. One is 3-dimensional, the other is flat.

to learn more about 3D mammography and breast cancer in general, just follow this LINK.

?

Source: http://929thelake.com/great-breakthru-in-breast-cancer-detection-3d-mammography/

daylight saving time 2012 grapes of wrath silent house nfl mock draft project m rubio colts