26 May 2011
By: NG WAN CHING
MAMMOGRAPHY
A screening mammography is different from a diagnostic mammography.
The former is reserved only for asymptomatic (without symptoms), well women with no breast problems or complaints such as nipple discharge or a breast lump.
Women should also not be seeing a doctor for breast problems or be on medical follow-up for breast problems, to qualify for Medisave use.
Diagnostic mammography is used to investigate a woman who has a breast problem such as lumps, bloody nipple discharge and entails more views and other breast imaging tests, including ultrasound scans.
The aim is to come up with a diagnosis, which may be breast cancer or benign lesions.
WHO SHOULD GO
A mammography is the best type of screening for breast cancer. BreastScreen Singapore, the national screening programme, recommends that women aged 50 and older be screened every two years.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is acting on the recommendations of the expert committee from the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, which conducted a review of health screening tests, including all available tests for breast cancer.
Its findings indicated that for women aged 50 and above with normal risk, a mammography for breast cancer was backed by the best evidence.
CRITERIA FOR MEDISAVE USE
1. Be a Singapore resident aged 50 to 69 years.
2. Have not had a mammography for the last 24months.
3. Have no breast symptoms or breast problems such as breast lumps or bloody nipple discharge.
4. Not be on medical follow-up for breast problems or seeing doctor for breast problems.
5. Not pregnant or breastfeeding.
HOW
Call a Medisave-approved clinic which offers mammography services to make an appointment. The list of approved clinics will be out later this year.
No doctor’s referral is required.
No doctor’s imaging request forms will be entertained as one should not be seeing a doctor for breast problems to be eligible for such a screening.
Appointments are usually given within the first 10 days of the patient’s menstrual cycle.
Take with you any previous mammograms or breast ultrasound images for the appointment as they may be needed for comparison.
You may continue to take all food, drinks and medication on the day of the mammography.
Do not put powder on the breasts or armpits.
Do not wear any jewellery on your upper body.
Wear a blouse with a skirt or trousers instead of a dress. This makes it easier to undress for the screening.
On arrival, you will be asked to change into a hospital or a clinic gown.
The female mammographer will interview you to ascertain if you have any breast problems, previous breast surgery or biopsy, a family history of breast cancer, if you are undergoing hormonal replacement therapy and also examine your breasts for lumps.
THE SCREENING
The mammography machine will take two X-ray views per breast.
The breast will be compressed with a plastic paddle just before an X-ray exposure is made. You will feel tightness or discomfort for a few seconds. You will be asked to hold your breath and not move during these few seconds.
Firm breast compression is required because this results in a good quality mammographic image and reduces radiation dose to your breast.
The procedure takes less than half an hour. You should get results within two to three weeks.
WHAT DOCTORS LOOK OUT FOR
Radiologists are specially trained to look out for signs of breast cancer on mammograms such as suspicious masses, clustered microcalcifications (tiny specks of calcium deposits) and any distortion of the appearance of the breast.
In screening mammography, benign lesions can be identified and will be ignored.
If the radiologists spot anything suspicious, the patient will be referred for further tests.
COST
Under BreastScreen Singapore, based in polyclinics, subsidised mammography screening is available at $50.
Women who fit the criteria can use Medisave to pay the $50 and do not have to pay cash.
This is the most affordable way to get a screening. The cost varies at other radiology centres.
The MOH will eventually accredit certain centres which fulfil the following:
quality assurance standards for screening mammography;
Medisave training and terms and conditions of Medisave use.
These centres will be made known in due course but are likely to be hospital-based for the initial phase. The Medisave withdrawal limit for mammography is $300 a year. This is applicable for screenings done only in Singapore.
CALL BreastScreen Singapore numbers: National Healthcare Group Diagnostics: 6275-6443 (6-ASK-NHGD)
SingHealth: 6536-6000
Radiologic Clinic in the Health Promotion Board Building in Orchard Road: 6533-2721
Source: Dr Llewellyn Sim, the director of breast imaging at Singapore General Hospital’s department of diagnostic radiology, and Ministry of Health.
COLONOSCOPY
WHO SHOULD GO
Three categories of patients should be screened.
Those at very high risk – those with a family history of hereditary colon cancer.
Those at high risk – those in the family with a first-degree relative (parent, child or sibling) with colon cancer, especially when this relative was younger than 60 years old at diagnosis.
Those at average risk – those who are 50 years old or older. Most people will fall into this group, which the Ministry of Health is targeting.
TESTS
The screening for the first two groups is colonoscopy, a visual examination of the colon and rectum through a scope.
Those who are at average risk have the choice of taking the faecal occult blood test, computed tomography (CT) colonography, barium enema or colonoscopy.
The faecal occult blood test looks for blood in the stools.
CT colonography is a medical imaging procedure which uses X-rays and computers to produce two- and three-dimensional images of the large intestine from the lowest part, the rectum, to the lower end of the small intestine.
In a barium enema test, the doctor fills the colon with a contrast material, barium, through the rectum and takes an X-ray of the abdomen.
The choice of the test will have to be worked out with the individual as the accuracy, cost and level of the individual’s involvement varies.
The blood test is the easiest but the least accurate. Colonoscopy is arguably the most accurate and offers the opportunity for immediate removal of polyps, the precursors to cancer.
However, it is more involved, requiring a day off work and preparation to cleanse the colon. It also carries risks of bleeding and perforation during the procedure.
As it is so accurate, it needs to be considered only once every 10 years if the first one is normal, unlike the blood test, which should be done annually.
The blood test detects only cancer and larger polyps that bleed and not smaller polyps in the pre-cancerous stage. A positive result requires follow-up colonoscopy.
Associate Professor Tang Choong Leong, who heads colorectal surgery at Singapore General Hospital, said: “However, if after normal colonoscopy, you develop symptoms such as blood in the stools or a change in your bowel habits, you should come in for colonoscopy again.”
HOW
You need to cleanse your bowels either the day before or on the morning of the colonoscopy.
A lavage solution (an isotonic salt solution) has to be consumed in a specified time of two to three hours. This will result in watery loose stools or just plain water being passed out at the end of the preparation so that the inside of the colon is clean for direct inspection using the colonoscope.
There is no pain involved in the preparation.
SCREENING
Most patients are sedated during the procedure with a short-acting tranquilliser injected intravenously. Some may choose to undergo the procedure awake. Most experience bloating, distension and occasionally spasms if the scope traverses a bend or twist in the colon.
A fibre-optic tube, the thickness of an index finger, is introduced through the anus and the surgeon will pass it up the large intestines all the way to the beginning, the caecum.
The colon is inspected twice – during insertion and also during withdrawal of the tube.
If a polyp is detected and is small and safe enough to be removed immediately, then forceps or a wire loop is inserted through a channel in the scope to grip, cut and remove the polyp. Bleeding is stopped by an electric current.
This is entirely painless even if the person is awake and watching.
The colonoscopy and polyp removal take more than 10 minutes, depending on the degree of natural twisting in the colon, the cleanliness of the preparation, and the number, size and location of the polyps that can be removed.
Provisional findings are known immediately and the discharging nurse will usually inform the patient of the results before he or she leaves.
The removed polyps may be sent for further testing. In this case, the results will be reviewed at a follow-up visit one to two weeks later.
WHAT DOCTORS LOOK OUT FOR
Anything that looks abnormal. Doctors may perform a biopsy on larger polyps that cannot be removed through the scope.
This means a pair of small forceps is passed down the scope to pinch a small sample for testing.
RISKS
Colonoscopy carries a risk of bleeding and perforation, especially with the removal of polyps, in the region of eight per 1,000 procedures carried out and one per 1,000 respectively.
Most bleeding is minor and stops spontaneously. In severe and persistent cases, repeat colonoscopy may be needed or even surgery to stop the bleeding. Most perforations would require surgery for repair.
COST
Most hospitals here carry out this procedure.
With subsidies, the average bill for colonoscopy can cost between $300 and $700. Without subsidies, it is at least $1,000.
The cost varies depending on the seniority of the doctor doing the procedure and if other tests are required.
The Medisave withdrawal limit will be pegged at the prevailing withdrawal limit for day surgery procedures, at $950 for colonoscopy and $300 per day for associated daily hospital charges. It is applicable only for colonoscopy done in Singapore.
The list of institutions approved to carry out the procedure for which Medisave can be used will be out closer to July 1.
Source: Associate Professor Tang Choong Leong, head of colorectal surgery at Singapore General Hospital, and Ministry of Health.
Email: wanching@sph.com.sg
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