Breast Cancer MRI - Increase Your Chances of Survival with Better Detection

Breast cancer has changed over the decades.

I remember the days when IF you had breast cancer, essentially the doctor sent you home to die. Today, IF detected early the chances for survival are greatly increased.

And today there is even more great news for early detection of breast cancer! New technology beyond the traditional mammogram is now available according to the world renown health facility Mayo Clinic.

Manual breast exams and mammograms may not detect a tumor in dense breast tissue.

A Mayo Clinic study found that molecular breast imagining can increase the detection of a tumor from 50% to 86%.

Breast cancer has changed over the decades.

I remember the days when IF you had breast cancer, essentially the doctor sent you home to die. Today, IF detected early the chances for survival are greatly increased.

And today there is even more great news for early detection of breast cancer! New technology beyond the traditional mammogram is now available according to the world renown health facility Mayo Clinic.

Manual breast exams and mammograms may not detect a tumor in dense breast tissue.

A Mayo Clinic study found that molecular breast imagining can increase the detection of a tumor from 50% to 86%.

Also important to your health is be aware of other types of breast cancer such as inflammatory breast cancer that can kill. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the silent breast cancer that kills.

If you are at high risk for breast cancer, ask for a magnetic resonance imagining, a MRI test. This request just may save your life.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or to some it is nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI), is a noninvasive medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualizedetailed internal structure and limited function of the body.

The MRI is a better test because it offers a greater contrast between the soft tissues of the body. The soft tissues of the body can be readily found in the brain (neurological), muscles (musculoskeletal), cardio and lungs ( cardiovascular) and cancer (oncological).

In a CT, this test uses ionizing radiation. With the MRI, however, it uses a magnetic field to align the hydrogen atoms. The radio frequency (RF) fields alter the alignment of this magnetization. The hydrogen nuclei is then allowed to be detected by the scanner.

"This signal can be manipulated by additional magnetic fields to build up enough information to construct an image of the body.^[1]:36

Keep in mind, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is rather new technology, it was published in 1973 and the first studies conducted in 1977.

The X-ray, however, dates back to 1895!

Learning about this new technology and discussing it with your doctor is important. Especially for your health but also for the advancement of medicine, we need to be health advocates and understand our bodies and understand the technology and fully understand what each test does and why it does what it does.

History and knowledge will make you a better patient and caretaker. Ask and learn, read, search on the Internet and be a knowledgeable participant in you and your family's health.

The terms are confusing, so here we go:

"Magnetic resonance imaging is a development of nuclear magnetic resonance. Originally, the technique was referred to as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI). However, because the word nuclear was associated in the public mind with ionizing radiation exposure, it is generally now referred to simply as MRI. Scientists still use the term NMRI when discussing non-medical devices operating on the same principles. The term magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) is also sometimes used."

Take the time to learn, your health, or your family members health may be dependent upon your knowledge.

Breast Cancer Statistics

The most common form of cancer for women (after the non-melanoma skin cancer) is breast cancer according to the United States Center for Disease and Control (CDC).

Scary Statistics:

Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women.

It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Sadly, the statistics, the CDC date back to 2006. Here are the statistics from their website:

"In 2006 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

• 191,410 women were diagnosed with breast cancer.*†

I remember my first professional job, a mentor and brilliant woman was diagnosed with breast cancer, this was in the mid 1980's. She was essentially given a time line. Oh, she did treatment and her hair fell out and they stated that they tried but in reality, she was on count down. Now, we have made progress and this terrible disease can be effectively fought and more often than not actually won. I know a number of breast cancer survivors. I cannot help when I hear their stories to think of my much admired business associate named Pam and how she might still be with us IF she had only gotten breast cancer five years later.

We have made progress, but we need more progress. Better detection is a giant step for women.

Talk it up - share the knowledge. It is important - this is our health!

40,820 women died from breast cancer.*†" source: cdc.gov

FTC Disclosure She has no affiliation with any of the companies or governmental entities listed within this article.

The author is a certified personal trainer and frequently writes about water aerobics, fitness, and health. She holds a masters degree in business and a minor in economics. She is the inventor of the EZ Swimmer, a great tool for exercising in the water.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only. Neither it nor the products sold here are designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis, testing, or advice on how to use the information/products listed in this site.

Copyright: © 2010 Gma Goldie All Rights Reserved - GmaGoldie loves to share her ideas but greatly appreciates credit for her hard work. Please email the author for permission for use of terms and ideas shared in this or other Gma Goldie articles on health, fitness and exercise.