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Show Some women shun test Unfounded rumors may be causing caus-ing some women to avoid a crucial screening test for breast cancer. Breast X-rays mammogramsspot tumors when they are too small to be detected by the woman herself. Stories abound that the squeezing of the breast needed for a good image is painful. Dr. Paul C. Stomper, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Har-vard Medical School, surveyed more than 1,800 women at seven mammogram centers to gauge their opinion: i - 88 percent said they felt no discomfort or only mild discomfort. - 9 percent reported experiencing moderate discomfort. i - 2 percent reported severe discomfort or moderate paint. - None said the discomfort would stop her from getting another screening. Should you have a mammogram? Finding tumors when they are small increases the chances of complete recovery and often offers the woman the option of having just the tumor, and not her entire breast, removed. Mammograms are recommended for all women over age 40. In addition, addi-tion, younger women whose mothers or sisters have had breast cancer should ask their doctors about the test. |