Breast Cancer DetectionTHEN…Until about the mid-20th century,
the only way to know something was wrong was to find a lump in a
woman’s breast. By then it was often too late to save her breast
— or her life. NOW…Mammography Screening: This remains the
standard for finding tumors at their earliest, most treatable
stage. But while mammography cuts the risk of dying by as much
as a third, it still misses 15 to 20 percent of cancers. Experts
have their hopes set on the following methods. Digital
Mammography: Currently available in fewer than 15 percent of
mammography facilities, digital mammography may one day be the
detection method of choice, especially for women with dense
breasts. (A new, less expensive device, Fuji’s Computed
Radiography Mammography Suite, won FDA approval this year, so
digital screening may soon become more widely accessible.)
Instead of capturing an image on film, digital mammography
stores an electronic picture of the breast on a computer, where
contrasts can be altered for better viewing.