breast implants

 

 

     Hi, I am afraid to go for a mammogram now, I had breast implants 20 years ago and I'm afraid that after all these years the machine could burst one of them.  Is there any other test they can do instead of a typical mammogram?  

 

     Breast cancer does not run in my family, but I know there's always that chance.

   God Bless,

   Mercyme 

Thanks anyway Bernadette :)

Mercyme

mercyme:
You can have a mammogram with implants. The technologist will do extra views to ensure the implant does not rupture with compression. The usual 2 views on each breast will be done with the implant in place with NO compression. Then, the implant will be pushed back and the breast tissue will be compressed and imaged. The same 2 views per breast will be taken in this manner - and then you're finished. There is a slight chance that the implant may rupture, but I have been doing mammograms for 9 years and have never heard of one rupturing from a mammogram.

If you are still unsomfortable about a mammogram, breast MRI would be an option but you would have to check to see if insurance would cover it. MRI is pretty expensive.

Hope this helps. No matter what your choice, you must have your yearly screening. Take care!