Mammogram

[Guest]

Every 6 months I have been asked by my doctor and the radiologist to come in for a mammogram. They inevidiably always send me for an ultrasound after the mammogram. Why can't they just do the ultrasound first? This is just for breast cysts, I am 49 years and in menopause When they are pretty sure they are just cysts, why are they being so cautious? Thanks

[Guest]

At 49 you should be in an annual mammography cycle. Now and again we shorten the interval to 6 months or even shorter if we need to follow something up and we can do that for a few 6 month sequences. But in the end you need to revert to annual screening.
Ultrasound at this time is not a replacement for mammography. It is an adjunct and a very important one, but it is not a replacement.
[quote] Every 6 months I have been asked by my doctor and the radiologist to come in for a mammogram. They inevidiably always send me for an ultrasound after the mammogram... [/quote]

[Guest]

Thank you for your quick reply. I guess I was hoping that an ultrasound would suffice, wishful thinking.
[quote] At 49 you should be in an annual mammography cycle. Now and again we shorten the interval to 6 months or even shorter if we need to follow something up and we can do that for a few 6 month sequences... [/quote]

[Guest]

There are just a few screening tests that we should be thankful for. For men it is the PSA, for women, mammography.
[quote] Thank you for your quick reply. I guess I was hoping that an ultrasound would suffice, wishful thinking... [/quote]