October 22, 2022 Issue, Page 19 of 22

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October 22, 2022 7B Mammogram First Line to Detecting Breast Cancer it. Schones pointed out that cer, Those are a little harder to ona mammogram. They can do physicians and people that will although she conducted the see,” Schones continued. a breast MRI without contrast, take care of you. It is not auto- procedure, she was not allowed She said that there are two and sometimes they can pick matically the worst thing that to divulge any knowledge or types of patients who go in for up some smaller cancers that could happen, there’s a lot of suspicions about what she saw. screening mammograms. This was obstructed due to their treatments. You need to find Only a doctor could diagnose means that they are asymp- dense breast tissue. They can a good support group early on. the patient. tomatic, not having any prob- also do one once they know You got to get some support. It “To see something and not be- Jems, or finding something. there’s a spot that was cancer- is hard because, a lot of people ing able to say anything is very “They can schedule it them- ous. Sometimes they go ahead want to ignore it, and they difficult. Especially nowadays, selves, or they can order it and do a breast MRI just to don’t want to acknowledge it. I feel like the medical field has themselves and give the hospi- make sure there’s not another ‘That makes it real but it is. Isee changed so much. The way doc- tal a physician that they see to spot that was missed by an a lot of people that just ignore tors’ offices run their offices go over their results. So if you ultrasound or mammogram. it for a while,” she reported. have changed. Sometimes I want to schedule your mam- ‘They can see a little farther worry that people aren't go- mogram, you just have to call. back into the chest wall. They Schones suggested going to the ing to find out the results. I Some places, like at Elk City, cannot see what stage of can- appointment with someone else, not to be by themselves tell them that they really need you must give them a doctor cer is there. That is determined to call their doctor to let them by a biopsy,” Schones said. because they don’t do self- when receiving bad news, or know they had this procedure referrals. They will do self-or- She said that she has seen what might be bad news. When done. This way they can make dering patients, but they want some very large masses over scheduling a mammogram the sure they get the results,” a physician to go over their re- her 20 years in the profession, person will be asked if she is Schones said, sults,” Schones said. but the radiologist is able to having issues or whether it is a Once the mammogram is ‘The radiologist has to assume go back through the exam to routine mammogram. The two completed, it goes to the radi- the best care for the patient, read the entire areas. It is easy exams are treated differently, ologist and then it goes to the or he/she could be somewhere usually the number of pictures to focus on the one mass, and doctor. The doctor is usually else reading the exam. The ra- the radiologist looks through that need to be taken. the one that orders the exam, diologist may not be on staff everything. If there are problems, the radi- and he/she is the one who has of the facility but work certain “I really did like doing mam- ologist will read it right then. to give the patient the results days a week doing procedures mograms. With my new job I He/she will suggest an ultra- By Sheryl Ponce weekend Friday, Saturday, and of the exam. ‘The radiologist is and the rest of the time read- don’t get to do them. It is in- sound to see more pictures or Sunday two times in a semes- the physician who reads the ing exams. Schones said that teresting. 1 don’t like doing it a biopsy. Those decisions are Elk City’s Branda Schones is ter. Itis mostly online though,” results. most of the radiologist read on people I know very well. It made while the patient is still “He or she (radiologist) inter- them remotely. is uncomfortable for them. I on sight. a radiologic technologist who Schones explained. prets the exam and puts his ‘The mammographer is not did really enjoy it,” she said. has specialized in performing At this point in her career she interpretation into a report for usually able to follow-up with “The hardest part for patients Schones best advice for women mammograms, and she has hopes to transition into the the exam order for the nurse the patient nor knows what and men was to schedule an is the waiting. As a frontline moved into MRI technology. classroom, teaching others the person, I think the best thing practitioner, physician, or phy- the outcome is. They do have appointment. The mammo- a person can do is to keep up She is working at Touchstone technology. sician assistants. I can see that to send a letter to the patient gram is to find cancer in its Imaging in Yukon. She is com- “Tve worked in this field for it is cancer, but I am not a radi- to make sure the patient gets early stages where it can be with the mammograms. A lot pleting her Master's degree in over 20 years. I'm ready for ologist and can’t diagnose the the results and/or returns to treated successfully. of people come in and do not radiological sciences education the change. I taught before for type of cancer,” she said. get further treatment. “Because you want to catch it know when they had the last from Midwestern State Uni- about four years. I was the clin- ‘As much experience as Schones “An MRI is not used to detect early, that is why the mammo- mammogram and are apolo- versity in Wichita Falls, Texas, ical coordinator and I liked it, has had doing mammograms, early breast cancer like a mam- gram is important. By the time getic about it. We don’t judge one of the top radiology pro- but the driving was too much,” she continued to say that she mogram is. An MRI is usually you can feel it, it may have had at all and understand that it grams in the United States. she added. can definitely see it. done for a couple of different time to grow.” isn't something that people “| will finish my degree in De- In her role in radiology, es- “Sometimes there are calcifi- things. They can do a breast If a person finds a mass, think about. They do not have cember. It has been a hybrid pecially in mammography, cations. Those are the little, MRI on women that have Schones advised him/her to to explain to us about not get- program, going on campus she was the first to see cancer small flecks of calcium, that dense breast tissue because it’s get to a physician. ting it done. We are glad they twice a semester, going a full but not the first to diagnose could be the precursors to can- very hard to see through even “There are a lot of really good are there,” she concluded. FACT:A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearl doubles if she has a first-degree relative mother, sister, daughter) who has been FACT: About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations. CAZZD Join The Fight! 8 Fred‘ Open Seven Days A Week ¢ Kid Friendly Menu Available Steakhouse 2103 S. Main Street, Elk City 2107 S. Main Street, Elk City 980-225-3463 980-243-2100 ia QUUNE, www.fredsteakhouseok.com