- TUESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) — There's just no getting
around the fact that mammograms are uncomfortable, but a new study
suggests that applying a topical analgesic before the test could
significantly ease the discomfort associated with the test.

And a test that's less painful may encourage more women to get
screened, the researchers suggest.

“Mammography saves lives, and we would like women to know that if
they're delaying or avoiding mammograms because they expect higher
discomfort, they should try this product and see if it can become a better
experience. It makes mammograms much more tolerable,” said study author
Colleen Lambertz, a nurse practitioner in the radiation oncology
department at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise,
Idaho.

Results of the study were in the July 22 online issue of
Radiology, and were expected to be published in the journal's
September print edition.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends women over 40 receive an
annual mammogram, because breast cancer that's caught early is easier to
treat, and potentially to cure. If breast cancer is discovered before it
has spread to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.
If cancer isn't found until it has spread to other areas of the body, the
five-year survival rate is just 27 percent, according to the ACS.

Despite its lifesaving potential, as many as one-half to two-thirds of
women don't follow screening guidelines, according to the study. A big
factor, said Lambertz, may be the pain and discomfort associated with the
test.

In an attempt to make the procedure less painful, Lambertz and her
colleagues recruited 418 women between the ages of 32 and 89 who expected
mammography to be painful and unpleasant. This group was randomly divided
to receive pre-mammography acetaminophen, ibuprofen, a topical 4 percent
lidocaine gel, or an oral or topical placebo. The gel was applied to the
breast and chest wall between 30 minutes and 65 minutes before the
test.

Women who used the lidocaine preparation reported significantly less
breast discomfort, according to the study.

However, Dr. Julia Smith, director of the Breast Cancer Screening and
Prevention Program at the New York University Lynne Cohen Breast Cancer
Preventive Care Program, pointed out that the lidocaine didn't make a
dramatic difference. She said that although women reported less discomfort
with the lidocaine gel, they didn't report significantly higher
satisfaction.

“What this study does highlight is that women shouldn't have to undergo
this kind of pain. We should have an improvement in technology. Mammograms
are unpleasant, and it's going to take more than giving people Tylenol; we
need better technology,” Smith said.

Smith also expressed concern that the gel might affect the quality of
the mammogram, and that no large-scale study has been done to assess
whether or not such a gel could interfere with image quality.

Lambertz said they found no difference in image quality for the women
they studied.

What's most important, Lambertz said, is that women feel empowered.
“We know that breast tenderness, anxiety and expectation of discomfort are
all directly correlated with the amount of discomfort that women
experience during their mammogram. Women can take measures to reduce
breast tenderness — pick a time for their mammogram when they expect
their breast tenderness to be lowest, and apply the lidocaine gel one hour
before their mammogram. They can then feel more confident that they will
have a good experience and hopefully undergo more regular screening,” she
said.

Smith added that if you're very anxious about the test, you should let
your doctor know so that you can discuss ways to ease your concerns.

The study was not funded by any pharmaceutical manufacturers.

More information

To learn more about mammography, visit the American Cancer
Society.