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H.S. FOOTBALL: Southern Columbia at Wyoming Area game is approved by Heartland Conference

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Kingston Council meets tonight at 7 p.m.

<p>Last week actress Diahann Carroll died of complications from breast cancer.</p><p>On average, one in eight U.S. women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.</p><p>Let that sink in, because the statistic is staggering. Among American women, only skin cancer is more frequently diagnosed, and only lung and bronchus cancers are more deadly, according to the American Cancer Society.</p><p>Men develop breast cancer as well, but the likelihood is more like 1 in 800, so our female counterparts are at much higher risk.</p><p>Although this disease takes lives, increased awareness of symptoms and developments in early detection have improved the chance of survival. In fact, the American Cancer Society reports the breast cancer death rate has declined by 1.8 percent per year from 2007 to 2016, when only 20 percent of patients lost their battles. And yet, the society predicts nearly 42,000 women will die in 2019 from breast cancer.</p><p>With most of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ahead of us, it&#8217;s as good a time as any to share important information about screening. Although there has been some controversy about exactly when screening should start, how and how often it should be undertaken, I have no doubt that early detection is vital to successful treatment, and that a mammogram is the best screen available.</p><p>The latest advancement in breast-cancer screening is digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), which is more commonly called 3D mammography. 3D mammography produces multiple X-ray images of each breast from various angles, resulting in a layer-by-layer view of breast tissue. The advantage of this method is it reduces tissue overlap that can hide cancers and, conversely, produces fewer shadows that can be misinterpreted as abnormalities on imagery.</p><p>In addition to mitigating some of the limitations of standard 2D mammography, 3D mammography provides a clearer, more accurate view of breast tissue, allowing for the identification of size, shape and location of abnormalities. This reduces the amount of return visits patients must endure for additional imaging and is particularly helpful for women with dense breast tissue, for whom standard mammography often failed to distinguish between cancerous tissue and normal tissue.</p><p>Screening mammograms are routine exams intended to detect signs of breast cancer before they are noticeable. Diagnostic mammograms, on the other hand, are used to examine abnormalities that have already been detected.</p><p>But screening mammograms cannot lead to early detection if they are not scheduled as recommended. Frequency of screenings may depend on a woman&#8217;s risk of breast cancer, and each individual should consult her primary care physician for guidance, but if your first mammogram sounds intimidating, here&#8217;s some information that can help familiarize you with the exam before you go:</p><p>The procedure</p><p>During a mammogram, the breast is placed on an X-ray plate and compressed for a few seconds while images are taken. 3D mammography takes pictures from two perspectives, above the breast and beside the breast, which allows all breast tissue to be seen.</p><p>After the mammogram, which typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes, a diagnostic radiologist scans the images for abnormalities and reports to your doctor, who will follow up if anything of concern is found.</p><p>Helpful tips</p><p>It is generally recommended that women plan mammograms around their menstrual cycle, because breast tenderness can lead to discomfort during the exam.</p><p>Application of deodorant and lotion should be avoided prior to a mammogram, because topical substances can skew imagery and lead to illegible or misleading images. Scheduling an appointment for early-morning and bringing deodorant to apply afterward is a good strategy.</p><p>You&#8217;ll receive a gown to wear during your mammogram, but comfortable, loose-fitting clothes can help relax you while you wait and during your exam.</p><p>One final piece of advice to make your mammogram less stressful is to consider any changes you&#8217;ve experienced prior to your screening. It will prepare you for informing your technician about those changes, other personal health matters and family history.</p><p>Remember, your mammogram can be life-saving, so treat it like a necessity.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Casale </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_casale_edit.jpg</photo0><caption0>Casale </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Alfred Casale</p><p>To Your Health</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is associate chief medical officer for Geisinger and chair of the Geisinger Heart Institute. Readers may write to him via ae@www.timesleader.com. For a free heart risk assessment, visit geisinger.org/heartrisk.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dr. Casale: Mammograms can save lives