New national poll: 89 percent of women said mammograms vital to their health

According to a recent poll of 1,000 American voters conducted for the American College of Radiology, nearly 9-in-10 women reported that having a regular mammogram gave them a feeling of control over their own health care. Nearly 90 percent of women who had a mammogram considered mammograms important to their health and well-being.

The poll, conducted Aug. 31 – Sept. 6, also showed that 86 percent of women report having a mammogram in last two years.

"I'm encouraged that poll results show that nearly 9-in-10 women voters are getting regular mammograms. However, I think we need to continue to stress to women and health care providers that mammography saves lives," said Barbara S. Monsees, MD, chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission.

Mammography has helped reduce the breast cancer death rate by more than 30 percent since 1990. Every major medical organization with expertise in breast cancer now recommends women get annual mammograms starting at age 40. However, the number of mammography facilities nationwide continues to decline. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there are now 223 fewer mammography facilities and 1,331 fewer mammography scanners available to American women than in July 2007.

"Mammography is the best tool available to screen for breast cancer. At present, there is nothing to replace it. We need to make sure that women get the information they need to make informed decisions and to protect and enhance access to life-saving mammograms," said Debra L. Monticciolo, MD, president of the Society of Breast Imaging.

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The American College of Radiology (ACR), the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and the American Society of Breast Disease (ASBD) launched the Mammography Saves Lives™ campaign in late 2009. The Mammography Saves Lives coalition produced a series of TV and radio public service announcements airing nationwide.

Mammogram is a few minutes-long lasting X-ray done of the breast after pressing it amid duo plates for flattening and spread the tissue within.

Screening mammogram is done for checking presence of some disease among females who do not exhibit symptoms or appear to be having no breast issues. The total time taken for screening mammogram is around twenty minutes and produces monochromatic images of breast tissue on huge sheets of films or digital computerized images which could be comprehended by radiologists. Advancements such a digital or 3D mammography has helped physicians in reading mammograms with greater accuracy.

Stringent parameters assure that the mammography gear is risk-free & employing least radiation dosage. Several individuals have concerns regarding the amount of radiation they are exposed to during X-rays however the levels are radiation employed in current mammography doesn’t considerably augment breast cancer risk.