You probably know that mammograms are an important way to make sure your breasts are healthy and detect early signs of breast cancer, but do you know when you need a mammogram and what signs to look for?

The old recommendation from the American Cancer Society was that women should begin getting annual mammograms at the age of 40. That recommendation has been updated and now suggests that women 45 or older should get an annual mammogram, with some research suggesting that these annual exams should start at 50.

The recommendation to wait until age 45 or 50 is for women who are not at high-risk for developing breast cancer due to genetics or family history. In addition to your age, there are other signs that you may need a mammogram. The following signs can usually be detected by performing a self breast exam, which is recommended once a month.

• Lumps – Most breast lumps are benign, but if you detect any that you haven’t noticed before you should have a mammogram no matter how old you are.
• Size – It’s not uncommon for breasts to be different sizes, however, if you notice that one of your breasts has increased in size rapidly over a short period of time it may be from breast cancer and you should schedule a mammogram.
• Nipples – You should not notice any discharge from your nipples unless you are lactating. Signs you need a mammogram include discharge, discoloration, and inversion.
• Swelling – Your breasts should not normally experience swelling and it can be accompanied by inflammation or a warm feeling. Breast dimpling should also warrant a mammogram.
• Pain – There are many reasons you might experience breast pain, but throbbing pain or an unusual ache is reason to visit your doctor and possibly have a mammogram.

If you experience any of the signs or have reached the age when annual mammograms are necessary, contact Salem Radiology at (503) 399-1262 to schedule an appointment.

Many people know what varicose veins look like, but they don’t know what causes them and how they can be treated or prevented. Varicose veins are usually bluish in color and are bulging veins just below your skin’s surface. They almost always occur in the legs or feet. Although varicose veins can be a bit painful and many people don’t like them from a cosmetic standpoint, they are typically harmless.

Inflamed varicose veins can negatively influence circulation and cause itchy skin, tenderness, aching in limbs, and swollen ankles. Varicose veins are actually pretty common with 23% of all Americans living with them. This condition is twice as common in women as it is in men.

Varicose veins are caused by valves that are not working properly. This allows blood to pool up in veins and makes it hard for your muscles to push that blood in an uphill direction. This causes congestion and veins can bulge and twist.

There are certain conditions that can lead to varicose veins including pregnancy, standing for long periods of time, and obesity. Any condition that causes excess pressure on your legs or abdomen can be the culprit. Those with sedentary lifestyles may also have an increased risk of developing varicose veins.

Mild cases of varicose veins often don’t need to be medically treated. Wearing compression stockings helps your leg muscles deliver blood upward which reduces varicose veins. Taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or aspirin can reduce symptoms of pain and swelling.

For more serious cases of varicose veins, there are medical procedures which can be performed including laser treatment, sclerotherapy, and surgical removal or stripping. Talk with your physician to learn more about these procedures and which one may be right for you. To learn more contact Salem Radiology today.

Lung cancer claims the lives of more than 150,000 people each year, with nearly a quarter of a million new cases being diagnosed every single year. That makes lung cancer the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, more than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.

With lung cancer being so prevalent, early detection is key and anything that can be done to improve that process could save many lives each year. Advances in technology have now made it possible to use low-dose CT scans to help diagnose lung cancer at a very early stage while it’s still very treatable.

A computed tomography (CT) scan produces cross-sectional images using several X-ray measurements taken from various angles. The technology was introduced in the 1970s but has recently been used to detect lung cancer.

The patient lies on a table as the CT scanner takes several pictures while it rotates around them. A computer combines the pictures to give a more complete image which can show lung tumors more effectively than a routine chest X-ray. The technology can also show the shape, size, and position of tumors in addition to showing enlarged lymph nodes that could contain cancer that’s spread from the lungs.

Because lung cancer symptoms aren’t usually present until the advanced stages of the disease, screening for high-risk patients is especially important. Medicare even covers the cost of these screenings for patients aged 55 to 77 who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years and who still smoke or have only quit within the last 15 years. According to the American Lung Association, about nine million people fit the criteria, but many of them don’t know about the procedure.

Contact Salem Radiology today at 503-399-1262 to schedule an appointment.

An Ultrasound is a versatile and extremely useful diagnostic medical imaging technique. Performed to view a patient’s internal organs and blood vessels, this procedure is probably best known for being a great way for a pregnant woman and her doctor to check in on the developing baby. However, ultrasounds have many more uses than simply prenatal care.

 

Doctors use ultrasound images to guide them during minimally invasive procedures. They also use the images produced by an ultrasound to examine the body for problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and soft tissue. By using ultrasound, radiologists can assess movement, function, and anatomy in order to analyze a wide range of conditions and determine the extent of damage from injury or illness.

 

An ultrasound scan also allows doctors to examine the body’s internal organs. The heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and bladder can all be observed, to determine what’s causing pain, swelling, or infection. Ultrasound images are captured in real time, which means they can show the movement of the internal tissues and organs, even letting physicians observe blood flow and heart valve functions.

This diagnostic tool has outstanding versatility and diverse uses. Doctors can use ultrasounds to diagnose damage after a heart attack, locate gallstones and kidney stones, identify fluid cysts, tumors, abscesses, and find impaired blood flow from clots or arteriosclerosis in the legs. These images can also help evaluate superficial structures like the scrotum or thyroid gland.

An ultrasound typically takes forty minutes or less. It uses high-frequency sound waves instead of radiation, which is why it’s such a useful obstetrical tool: there’s no risk to the baby from an ultrasound. The typical ultrasound machine consists of a computer, a display screen, and a transducer probe. This probe is the part of the scanner that touches the patient’s body. The care provider will lubricate the area to be scanned, and then place the transducer on top of the place that needs to be scanned.

The transducer produces sound waves, which the body sends back as echoes; yes, an ultrasound works the same way that bats and submarines do. A controlled sound will bounce against any available object, creating an echo that can be used to create an understanding about the shape, size, density, and depth of the item. While bats and submarines use their sonar to navigate, the ultrasound uses controlled sound to create pictures, which are immediately sent to the display screen for the doctor, technician, and sometimes the patient, to view.

For doctors, the benefits of an ultrasound are obvious. Its versatility and ability to create a clear picture of what’s happening to a person internally are extremely valuable and can, in some situations, reduce or even eliminate the need for more invasive procedures. For patients, there are also major benefits: ultrasounds aren’t invasive and they don’t produce unpleasant side effects.

Whatever the reason, if you need to schedule a diagnostic imaging procedure like an ultrasound, Salem Radiology can help. Established in 1974, we are the largest radiology group in the area and offer a depth of specialization among our doctors that you would expect to find only at major university medical centers. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (503) 399-1262 or contact us through our website.