People are always raising awareness about the importance of scans for signs of breast cancer. Breast cancer can be treated if it is caught in the very early stages. It is more difficult to cure cancer if it has already spread and it is in the later stages. Evaluate the key differences between a mobile MRI and a mammogram for detecting breast cancer. While one might be the best choice both types of scans can be chosen in case there is any doubt from the results of just one of the scans.
Curing breast cancer can be easier if it is caught early on thanks to mammograms. Mammogram screening typically begins for women in their early forties. There is an extremely high breast cancer detection rate for women already in their fifties. Only a small amount of radiation is given off during mammogram screening. People who have defibrillators or pacemakers can get mammograms done, but not have a mobile MRI scan. Because mammograms have been around for so long and have been the main screening test for breast cancer detection, more radiologists are familiar with reading mammograms than breast mobile MRI results.
Women who have had breast cancer in the past should consider having a scan with a mobile MRI in addition to mammograms on a consistent basis. Women usually get mammograms to detect breast cancer, but mobile MRIs can also detect breast cancer. These types of scans should be done annually to detect the cancer in the early stages. One thing about mobile MRIs is that they are more sensitive than mammograms are. This makes it easier for mobile MRIs to detect tumors than mammograms are. However, it is important to note that because they are more sensitive it is more likely that mobile MRIs give a higher false positive rate. More time and worry would have to go into rescreening a patient. Mobile MRIs also do not cause exposure at all to radiation like mammograms do. While mobile MRIs have good points for detecting breast cancer it is still early so more studies will have to be conducted to see the type of difference that they can make.
While mobile MRIs can be a good alternative for detecting breast cancer the cost of mobile MRIs is much greater than mammograms. As mentioned above in regard to the sensitivity factor of mobile MRIs it can cost more money to have the patient rescreened if it turns out that the positive rate was indeed false. Besides the physical cost mobile MRIs are also costly in terms of time. They take roughly an hour to finish the test while mammograms only take about ten minutes.
While there of course pros and cons associated with choosing a mobile MRI or a mammogram for detecting breast cancer the one that is chosen should be based on what is best for the patient. Women who are considered high-risk patients for breast cancer should probably have both a mobile MRI and a mammogram done for more complete results. Always consult your doctor to find out what would be best for you.
