Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/94986
Red Bluff Daily News Saturday, November 24, 2012 Mammograms: Digitally Yours All mammograms start the same way-with an X-ray of the breast. But a newer type, called a digital mammo- gram, processes images differently. It records and stores images on a computer instead of X-ray film. Digital mammograms still require compressing the breasts to get good images. But according to the Amer- ican Cancer Society (ACS), they have some advantages over film. After you have a mammogram, the images are ana- lyzed by a radiologist. With digital mammograms, the radiologist can adjust the images on the computer screen to get a better look. He or she can change the size, brightness or contrast to see certain areas more clearly. Some studies show that this reduces the num- ber of women who need to return for extra tests. If the radiologist wants to send the images to your doc- tor or show them to another specialist, this can easily be done electronically. Managing images this way is simi- lar to how digital photos can be viewed and shared. Both film and digital mammograms work well at finding breast cancer. However, several studies show that dig- ital images may be more accurate in women younger than 50 and in women with dense breast tissue, reports the ACS. While all X-rays use radiation, the dose from both film and digital mammograms is very small. In fact, one mammogram delivers about the same amount of radia- tion as you get in three months from natural sources. Digital mammography is available at the St. Elizabeth Imaging Center in Red Bluff. The St. Elizabeth Imaging Center accepts self referrals and there is a payment pro- gram available to uninsured qualified patients. To find out more about the mammogram funding program, call 530-529-8079 to schedule an appointment, call 888- 628-1948 Page 5