Regular Mammography Screening Saves Lives Medical Experts Stand By Screening Recommendations (NAPSA)—A regular mammo- cram is the best way to detect breast cancer, giving a woman options she might not have other- wise had if her cancer wasnot dis- covered in its earliest, most curable stages. That’s the long-standing posi- tion of the National Cancer Insti- tute, and today, routine mammog- raphy screenings are considered part of good and reasonable medical practice. New technology and a greater emphasis on technolo- gist education are helping make this procedure even morereliable, convenient andeffective. The benefits of mammography screening have been clearly shown in randomized, controlled trials in both the United States and Europe. While breast cancer re- mains the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the United States, the decline in the number of breast cancer deaths since 1989 corresponds directly to an in- crease in routine mammography screening. In addition, medical experts now agree that correct patient positioning during the exam plays an extremely important role in the detection of tumors—even more important than image sharpness. “There are a numberof differ- ent factors that affect correct posi- tioning, including breast size, mobility of the patient and breast augmentation,” says Joanne ScottSantos, Women’s Health Manager of Siemens Medical Solutions, a manufacturer of mammography products. “Each presents a specific challenge to technologists that, if dealt with correctly, can avoid false positive or false negative readings on the mammography film.” The American College of Radiology, along with the American Cancer Society, the Society of Breast Imaging, the American Medical Women’s Association and numerous other national women’s eroups, stand by its recommendation of annual mammography screenings and yearly clinical breast examinations beginning at age 40. “Mammographic screening works,” said Dr. Stephen Duffy of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in Britain. “It reduces the chances of dying from the disease. It is not the entire answerfor con- trolling breast cancer, but it is an importanttool.” Meanwhile, companies such as Siemens Medical Solutions con- tinue to invest significant re- search and development dollars into the search for new technolo- gies that will improve the detection and treatment of breast cancer. Siemensalso offers education and training for technologists in subjects such as patient position- ing to improve the success of existing technologies, and the company’s sponsorship of several regional Komen Racefor the Cure events supports that organization’s efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer. “Siemens understands that as more women are educated about the kinds of diagnostic and treatment options available to them, more will get the screening and healing they need to survive this disease,’ said Scott-Santos of Siemens. For more information about the early detection of breast cancer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.siemensMedical.com and www.imaginis.com.
