It is the most common form of cancer among women in the United States, with about 185,000 new cases discovered annually. Breast cancer causes more deaths than any other form of cancer in women under age 55. If the cancer is diagnosed early, the cure rate is very high, with 97 percent of women surviving five years.
Mammograms are an invaluable tool for the early detection of breast cancer.
Mammograms, or X-rays of the breast, can even detect lumps too small to feel. Some masses buried deep within the breast or under the arm can be detected only by a mammogram. Without this procedure, such cancers can reach the dangerous stage before patients even know about them. Now, a Texas researcher is excited about a new way of double-checking mammogram results. CAD takes a mammogram image and digitizes it into an electronic image that the computer can read.