October… the month that ramps up everything to do with breast cancer. From breast cancer awareness to celebrating the brave women (and men) who have come face to face with the disease. And with all is said and done, early detection still remains key to higher chances of successful treatment. And the only way this can happen is through routine breast cancer screening, with mammograms remaining the gold standard screening technique, in addition to offering an effective means of detecting breast cancer early.

But even though most women are aware that they should undergo mammograms at some point in their lives, there is still some confusion regarding it. Dr Sadir Alrawi, Director of Surgical Oncology at Al Zahra Hospital in Dubai, stepped into The Beautiful Lifestyle Online to dispel some common mammogram myths and share the corresponding facts.

Breast Cancer Screening: Myths Vs Facts

MYTH: Mammograms can only detect signs of cancer when it’s too late to treat it.

FACT: Mammograms are used as a gold standard in breast cancer screening and diagnosing breast cancer, and they can detect cancer cells years before physical symptoms develop in the breast.

MYTH: Mammograms are uncomfortable.

FACT: Mammograms are uncomfortable when they are being carried out although this discomfort is short-lived. New technology has reduced the discomfort and painful sensation experienced by women when undergoing Mammograms.

MYTH: Mammograms cause cancer due to radiation.

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FACT: Repeated X-rays are a health hazard. However, mammograms use a very low level of radiation. The danger posed by this level of radiation is very small and the benefits of breast cancer screening with mammograms outweigh the risks.

MYTH: Self-examining the breast can replace Mammograms.

FACT: Self-examination is very important in the early detection of lumps and other abnormal physical appearance of the breast. However, it cannot replace mammograms. Studies have shown that breast self-exam alone is not enough to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths.

FACT: Mammograms can make the difference between living a dying

FACT: Mammograms are the golden standard for breast cancer detection. It can make the difference between detecting breast cancer, which means early treatment and high chances of a successful outcome.

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MYTH: Only Women over the age of 50 should do a mammogram.

FACT: International guidelines recommend that any woman over the age of 40 years should do a yearly mammogram. Women that have a family history of breast cancer should start getting mammograms 5 years earlier than the youngest age of diagnosis in the family.

So, what myth caught you off guard? And have you had a mammogram or any other form of breast cancer screening?