Oct 1, 2008 7:48 pm US/Eastern
Implants May Complicate Mammography
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The best way to beat breast cancer is to catch it early with a mammogram but for the hundreds of thousands of American women who have breast implants, mammograms can be difficult.
Doctors have to move the implant out of the way for the x-ray to see all of the tissue needed. Doctor say implants placed behind the muscle are easier to displace than those in front of the muscle.
Even with special techniques, implants can still hide cancers and delay diagnosis. In fact, many women with implants avoid mammograms because of the fear the implants might rupture during the procedure.
Studies have shown that most women who get breast implants are in their early twenties or thirties. So, by the time they start going for their recommended screening at age 40, the implants are already weak and vulnerable to rupture.
But, in a ten-year long nationwide survey, only 41 implant ruptures were reported during the procedure. So, experts say implant or not, the recommendations apply.
"Women with breast implants should not be fearful of having a mammogram. They should start having mammograms at age 40, and have them yearly," said Dr. Eric Grimm.
It's recommended to go to a breast center with a lot of experience on implants for your screening. If you have silicone implants, some doctors recommend getting an MRI of the breast three years after the surgery, then every two years. The scans are not for cancer screening, but rather trying to detect implant ruptures. An MRI may also catch breast cancer tumors as well.
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