While mammograms are currently the most effective means of detecting breast cancer, they are not always completely accurate. If a woman has been experiencing breast pain, tenderness or discomfort and a mammogram rules out cancer, this does not mean that the woman should assume that no problem exists. Mammography cannot reveal every breast cancer at an early stage, and it can sometimes arouse suspicion when no cancer is present.
Researchers are currently looking for ways to improve the accuracy of mammograms. They are also exploring alternative techniques to produce even more detailed pictures of the tissues in the breast. Tumor makers, or substances that may be present in abnormal amounts in the blood or urine of a woman who has breast cancer, are a promising alternative. Presently, however, such tests are not available and mammogram remains the most reliable test available.
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