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Generally, weight loss helps improve health and shed fat, leading to positive lifestyle changes.\u00a0However, there is one thing to consider if you are losing a substantial amount of weight. Since breasts are composed of fatty tissue, lobes, glandular tissues, milk glands and your lymph system,\u00a0losing weight can affect the results of a mammogram.<\/p>\n
If you are losing weight and shedding some of the fatty tissue in your breasts, the breast’s composition\u00a0begins to change. This change in composition can be responsible for impacting the density of breasts that show up in a mammogram.<\/p>\n
Since weight loss can be responsible for changes in\u00a0the breast’s composition, you may want to consider scheduling another mammogram to make sure nothing has changed. If you notice changes in density, texture or how your breast feels, it is good to schedule a mammogram.<\/p>\n
Gaining a substantial amount of weight can also have a similar effect. Weight gain can cause abnormal mammogram results and the amount of fat in your breasts to increase and change the overall composition. If you think you have had any change in how your breasts feel, it is best to see a physician. You can also perform\u00a0monthly self-examinations to monitor these differences, especially when following a weight loss plan where you expect to lose considerable weight.<\/p>\n
Mammograms<\/a>\u00a0can diagnose breast cancer in its early stages before any lump can be felt and detected through self-examination.\u00a0In this stage, the cancer is easier to treat. Each year, approximately\u00a0281,550 women<\/a>\u00a0are diagnosed with breast cancer. If you notice any change, it is a good idea to get your breast examined in a mammogram.<\/p>\n A mammogram uses a machine designed only to examine breast tissue. During a\u00a0mammogram, a\u00a0machine with two plates compresses the breasts to flatten and spread the tissues. This makes\u00a0the breast tissue easier to examine and requires lower x-rays doses.\u00a0X-ray images of each breast are taken<\/a>, usually from a few different angles. The radiologist will then examine these x-rays for tumors or any abnormal tissues.<\/p>\n Request A Screening Mammogram<\/a><\/p>\n Although screenings can come back with abnormal areas in the breast, it can not always be determined\u00a0if the area is cancerous. This information will help to decide whether more testing is needed. If a screening mammogram shows changes to your breast or if you display breast cancer symptoms, you may need a diagnostic mammogram. Diagnostic mammograms include extra images and views not included in a screening mammogram.<\/p>\n Within mammograms, there are usually three main things radiologists look for:<\/p>\n Breast density is directly\u00a0affected by weight loss. If you are losing fatty tissue in your breasts, you will have increased breast density\u00a0since there is less fatty tissue compared to glandular tissues. Denser breasts are linked to a\u00a0higher risk of breast cancer.<\/a><\/p>\n Women whose mammogram shows extremely dense breasts can\u00a0get a mammogram call-back<\/a>\u00a0after weight loss. Dense breasts make it more difficult to detect cancer since dense breast tissue looks white, and masses or tumors would also appear white in a mammogram image. Fatty tissue shows up dark, almost black, so there is more contrast in a mammogram with less dense breasts.<\/p>\n The lack of contrast with dense breasts makes it difficult to properly determine normal versus abnormal breast growths\u00a0and may require more testing to\u00a0detect if cancer is present. It also makes it easier for cancerous growth to hide behind the normal breast tissue. Mammograms are an essential imaging test because breast cancer, behind skin cancers, is the\u00a0most common cancer<\/a>\u00a0in American women.<\/p>\n If you have lost weight, you may wonder when you should schedule a mammogram. If you lose a pound here and there, this shouldn’t be enough to change the composition of your breasts.\u00a0Your mammogram will only be affected if you have experienced significant weight loss\u00a0since your last mammogram. With this being said, there is no right or wrong time when to get a mammogram.<\/p>\n It is generally recommended to schedule a mammogram if you are unsure if weight loss has changed the composition of your breasts.\u00a0While self-examinations are a useful tool to consider, you may want to follow these guidelines to determine if you should schedule a mammogram:<\/p>\n At Health Images, we pride ourselves on a patient-centric approach to all of the services and care we offer.\u00a0World-leading diagnostic imaging services<\/a>\u00a0and the highest level of patient care are at the core of all we do. Our diagnostic imaging equipment is innovative and helps ensure all patients receive the most accurate test results possible.\u00a0Request a screening mammogram<\/a>\u00a0today at Health Images.<\/p>\n Sources:<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Generally, weight loss helps improve health and shed fat, leading to positive lifestyle changes.\u00a0However, there is one thing to consider […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mammography"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
How Can Losing Weight Change Your Mammogram?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWhen Should I Schedule a Mammogram?<\/h2>\n
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Request Premium Mammography Services From Health Images<\/h2>\n
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