�1-Why is breast self-examination being replaced in the screening guidelines by
mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging?
�2-What are the risks associated with breast cancer screening? Do the risks outweigh the
benefits? Why or why not?
BREAST SCREENING TECHNIQUES
Introduction
Advancements in breast screening technology have led to the growth of techniques to
handle the analysis and development of breast analysis equipment. This means that activities that
women used to engage in the name of breast screening such as self-examination do not really
BREAST SCREENING TECHNIQUES 2
make sense in the modern environment. It is indeed important that persons undertaking different
activities in the modern world to acknowledge the advancements that have led to early treatment
and elimination of breast cancer. Often, breast cancer is detected while already too late.
However, with the proper mechanisms and technology (as is available today), there can not only
be early diagnosis but early treatment as early as sixteen years. This is a very important
realization in medicine and indeed one that needs acknowledgement (Arrospide et al., 2016).
It is often difficult to understand why to or not to use techniques such as the mammogram
and the breast magnetic resonance examination. However, given that the main issue and
symptom sought after in breast cancer examination is the lump in the breast; then there is need to
have techniques that realize this lump before it becomes a sore bob on the breast. It is also
necessary that at the end of the day; there be a mechanism to realize a reputable scale reading
that will auger well with international standards. Cancer of any kind is the world’s greatest killer.
This is why it is often important to take cancer research to such extremes. Nevertheless, the use
of equipment minimizes human error where the possibility of human intuition (often a blunder in
medicine) is imminent. It is therefore important to ensure that the technology used is rightfully
utilized to achieve specific assignment goals in medical treatment (Autier, Boniol, Smans,
Sullivan & Boyle, 2016).
Risks
Breast cancer screening is associated with a lot of risks. Firstly; there is the concern that
the hospital is not accredited to treat cancer patients. There is need to ensure that the research
center or healthcare facility treating the situation has the right equipment to handle the patient.
There is also need to guarantee that it is likely to be a situation where the nature of healthcare
BREAST SCREENING TECHNIQUES 3
provided has to be government-approved. Handling of cancer patients is and should be a
government prerogative thus the need to ensure that there is always considerable risk mitigation.
There is also a significant challenge with regard to the estimation of growth of lump (predicting
age of the cancer). This makes it difficult to determine whether or not a particular sample of data
can actually justify the correct mechanisms for screening and treatment of breast cancer (Mahon,
2012).
Conclusion
Breast cancer treatment is a complimentary factor of many components and resources as
far as treatment of cancers is concerned. Nonetheless, there is always the advancement of
technologies to better healthcare. Most healthcare practitioners nonetheless do not appreciate
new technology probably due to the complexity of machines. It is therefore important to ensure
that there is a deliberate effort to promote the use of breast cancer equipment in hospitals. Efforts
such as public awareness campaigns and telecasting campaigns need to be rewarded with
government regulation on some of the new treatment mechanisms. Only by doing this can the
treatment of cancer be advanced. This advancement would only come through use and research
of new technologies. It is important to screen cancer at an early age. The radiology involved in
the screening process can have adverse effects on the treatment mechanism (Hinkle & Cheever,
2014).
References
BREAST SCREENING TECHNIQUES 4
Arrospide, A., Rue, M., van Ravesteyn, N. T., Comas, M., Soto-Gordoa, M., Sarriugarte, G., &
Mar, J. (2016). Economic evaluation of the breast cancer screening programme in the
Basque Country: retrospective cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis.BMC
Cancer, 161-9.
Autier, P., Boniol, M., Smans, M., Sullivan, R., & Boyle, P. (2016). Observed and Predicted
Risk of Breast Cancer Death in Randomized Trials on Breast Cancer Screening. Plos
ONE, 11(4), 1-13.
Hinkle, J., & Cheever, K. (2014). Brunner and Suddarthâ’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing
(13th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Mahon, S. (2012). Screening for breast cancer: Evidence and recommendations. Clinical Journal
of Oncology Nursing, 16 (6), 567-571.