12 Things You Want To Know About Breast Cancer Screening But Were Afraid to Ask

Last Friday, before attending Day 1 of Philippine Fashion Week, I was invited by Philips to pay a visit to Capitol Medical Centero to have a breast cancer screening.  I did not hesitate to go, even if I know I don’t have symptoms yet or so I thought.

Well, from time-to-time, I feel tiny lumps on my breast, and it feels tender and sore, especially during my period, but aside from that, I have not really done that “selfie”  breast exam thoroughly to assess my boobs condition.

So, as soon as we got to the Breast Care department of Capitol Med, we were introduced to their doctor Mars Benigno Santi III and radiologist.  His first question was:  “OK,why are you here?  What do you want to know?”

We spilled the beans and ask seemingly “stupid” questions most of us were afraid to ask because we don’t want to look dumb.   But hey, it is better to ask, because you are only as dumb as your last question.

1. How old should we get a breast cancer screening/mammogram?
   Doc said:  Screening is best done at age 40 above or an age when you are starting menopausal stage.  Contrary to popular belief that we can go anytime at any age we want for a breast cancer screening, it is best to go when we reach 40 years old.
2. But why did they say we should do the self-breast examination from time-to-time?
   Doc Said: It is better to see the signs earlier as the survival rate is higher if detected and removed earlier if they see signs of cancer or tumor or lumps even if it is benign.
3. Why 40 years old above?
   Doc Said: Because it is during this time that the cells will appear.It rarely appears/manifest at a young age.
4. Why do they recommend breast cancer screening for younger women?
   Doc Said: Only when you have a history in the immediate family of breast cancer should you go have a screening at an early age like 20’s to 30’s. Immediate family meaning sister and mother.
5. If you have a history of cancer in the family ,not particularly breast cancer, should you go for the early screening?
   Doc said: No. Only breast cancer. If your family has history of lung cancer you but not breast cancer there is a very small chance of having breast cancer.
6. How often should we get a breast cancer screening?
   Doc said: If you are 20’s-30’s go every 5 years. If you are 40 above have a checkup every year.
7. Most Stupid Question: Can bumping/ hitting the breast often cause beast cancer (Pag laging nababangga ang dibdib nakaka-cancer ba yun?)
   Doc said: No. Breast Cancer is caused by genetics and other factors but not constant bumping (joke ni doc Ok lang lagi nababangga at least namamasahe!).
8. What causes breast cancer then aside from genetics/hereditary?
   Doc Said; Hormones. If you gave birth early or have menstruation early. The higher there is estrogen effects in your body the more you are prone to breast cancer. What we eat. Like pigs from piggery who inject estrogen in their feeds to make the pig grow bigger. The higher the Estrogen the higher the risk for breast cancer.
9. Can men get breast cancer too?
   Doc said: Yes. Because they have breast tissues as well. Men have higher risk of death if they get breast cancer because it is hardly detected in men.
10.  Is it painful to have a mammogram?
    Doc said: Depending on your pain tolerance level, it can be painful or just uncomfortable. It also depends on the type of examination if it is manual or by machine.

Then they showed us the mammogram machine they use in Capitol Med the Philips Microdose Mammography is the lowest dose of radiation mammogram machine available in the Philippines and Capitol Med has one of the two machines available in the country.

• 11: Does it hurt?
  Radiologist said: It is a little uncomfortable but not painful, because the machine squeezes your boobs to get accurate picture of the cells in your boobs.

Yes, this machine uses digital photographs /a digital xray with the lowest radiation ever, that you can see your result in after 5 minutes. It takes digital images of your breast tissues and from then they can see if there’s something wrong.

• 12: How much does a mammogram cost here in Capitol Med?
  Radiologist said: Php2,500.00

After having to ask all those question and getting all the answer, I felt more relieved than ever.  I did not go through the screening but one of my fellow mommy blogger Myrns Roman who is 40 years old above went through it.  He screening result will be known a few days after, I am not sure if she got it already today.  Hopefully she is cleared from it.

As for the younger ladies like me, like I said at the event, when in doubt, the best selfie to take is a breast cancer self-exam!   If anxiety persist, consult your doctor!

You may visit the Breast Care Unit of Capitol Medical Center at Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Stay gorgeous everyone!