Banner Health Arizona presented a live mammogram and breast biopsy on July 28th. Afterward, Dr. Marina Giurescu, a radiologist at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and the Director of Women's Services at Clinical Diagnostic Radiology in Phoenix, hosted a chat. Here is the transcript of that chat.

We also enjoyed having Michelle Griffiths of the Phoenix Mercury join us. The WNBA is an advocate of the fight against breast cancer and has made it the league's official cause.

[19:07] CIM-AccessAZ> Hi everyone, thanks for joining us today!
[19:18] Dr. Marina Giurescu is a radiologist with Clinical Diagnostic Radiology in Phoenix and is the Director of Women's Services at the CDR Paradise Valley Office.
[19:12] AccessAZ> Michelle Griffiths of the Phoenix Mercury joins us today as well. The WNBA supports the fight against breast cancer and the search for a cure.
[19:18] CIM-AccessAZ> The doctor is in!
[19:20] CIM-AccessAZ> We are ready to take questions about breast health and mammograms
[19:21] AccessAZ> Michelle says: Hi everyone in the room! And a special hello to anyone from Australia
[19:24] guest-Birdlady> Did the mammogram hurt?
[19:25] DrGiurescu> The compression during the mammorgram....
[19:25] DrGiurescu> hurts variably and for a very brief moment...
[19:25] guest-Birdlady> How quickly do you get the test results?
[19:25] DrGiurescu> the discomfort is variable and individual.
[19:25] DrGiurescu> *
[19:25] ASKMarina> guest-butch says: Has the baseline mammogram been moved up from age 40?
[19:25] jskala1> should high girlsget amammogram
[19:25] DrGiurescu> A baseline mammogram should be obtained....
[19:26] DrGiurescu> between ages 35 and 40, with annual mammograms thereafter.
[19:26] DrGiurescu> *
[19:26] DrGiurescu> guest-Birdlady> How quickly do you get the test results?
[19:27] DrGiurescu> Biopsy results are usually available within 48-72 hours....
[19:27] DrGiurescu> and sometimes up to 96 hours.
[19:27] DrGiurescu> *
[19:27] ASKMarina> guest-butch says: Do you always feel that you see what you need to with these mammograms?
[19:28] DrGiurescu> I occasionally need to supplement the information on the mammorgram...
[19:28] DrGiurescu> with an ultrasound, or additional mammogram views.
[19:28] DrGiurescu> *
[19:28] guest-Birdlady> Who calls me regarding the test? - Will I get some kind of cold voicemail at home or will the doctor call me?
[19:28] ASKMarina> ClassicalGuitar says: after a lumpectomy is it normal to have swelling of the lymph glands around the site... years later?
[19:29] DrGiurescu> Any swelling of the lymph glands after a lumpectomy....
[19:29] DrGiurescu> should be monitored and followed up by your physician.
[19:29] Kaypor> ClassicalGuitar, I had a lumpectomy one year ago and I still experience soreness
[19:29] DrGiurescu> *
[19:30] ClassicalGuitar> mine was 7 years ago and I keep having mammograms
[19:30] ClassicalGuitar> and these two lymph glands are swollen
[19:30] ASKMarina> guest-butch says: How is the best way to motivate a middle-aged woman to get a mammogram that has never had one and generally only goes to the doctor for severe poison ivy or a major tooth ache?
[19:30] ClassicalGuitar> my armpit will swell... then go down... then swell...
[19:30] Kaypor> I have constant soreness where the scar tissue is
[19:30] ClassicalGuitar> I am worried it's cancer... but they think it's reactive to surgery
[19:30] DrGiurescu> Mammograms are the best available tool for early detection....
[19:31] DrGiurescu> of breast cancer. Studies involving very large numbers of patients have ....
[19:31] DrGiurescu> shown that mortality from breast cancer is decreased....
[19:31] DrGiurescu> by 35-50 percent in women over the age of 50....
[19:31] DrGiurescu> who get annual mammograms.
[19:31] DrGiurescu> *
[19:31] Kaypor> I am 41. Was 40 when I had lumpectomy. It appeared in a lump
[19:32] ASKMarina> guest-michelle says: The mammatone procedure was fantastic, especially in light of so many surgeons requiring surgical biopses for the more routine biopsy need. Is there a real effort being made to education primary health care professionals as to this procedure so that more women will be advised that there is a significantly better option with the mammotone?
[19:32] DrGiurescu> The mammotone biopsy option applies only to certain findings on a mammogram....
[19:33] DrGiurescu> more and more physicians are becoming familar with this alternative....
[19:33] DrGiurescu> and are advising their patients appropriately.
[19:33] DrGiurescu> *
[19:33] tmlewis30> In the past year, I know numerous ladies in their 30's that have had a scare with breast cancer
[19:33] DrGiurescu> tmlewis30> says: Why isn't there more stats done on women under 40?
[19:34] DrGiurescu> The incidence of breast cancer in women under 40...
[19:34] DrGiurescu> is extremely low. As a matter of fact, over 75 percent of breast cancer....
[19:34] DrGiurescu> (cancers) are being diagnosed in women over the age of 50.
[19:34] DrGiurescu> *
[19:36] DrGiurescu> tmlewis30> says: How recent our your stats? It just seems to me that there are more and more women under 40 with breast cancer
[19:38] DrGiurescu> The statistics are being updated annually by the American College of Radiology....
[19:38] DrGiurescu> there is, however, a greater public awareness. Women diagnosed at a young age....
[19:39] DrGiurescu> have joined the forefront of our fight against breast cancer.
[19:39] DrGiurescu> *
[19:39] ASKMarina> guest-michelle says: In the Phoenix area is the mammotone procedure commonly known and routinely used?
[19:39] DrGiurescu> Yes, increasingly so.
[19:39] DrGiurescu> *
[19:40] ASKMarina> guest-butch says: When do womn stp having mammograms
[19:40] DrGiurescu> Women over 40 should have annual mammograms; there are no current...
[19:40] DrGiurescu> recommendations regarding an age cut-off after that.
[19:40] DrGiurescu> *
[19:40] ASKMarina> guest-Birdlady says: I understand that there are drugs that can prevent breast cancer - can you speak to this?
[19:41] DrGiurescu> Tamoxifen, a drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer, has been shown...
[19:42] DrGiurescu> in recent studies, to be able to reduce the incidence of breast cancer....
[19:42] DrGiurescu> in healthy women by close to 50 percent. It has now been approved....
[19:42] DrGiurescu> by the FDA as a potential preventive tool in certain women who might be....
[19:43] DrGiurescu> at very high risk for breast cancer....
[19:43] DrGiurescu> Tamoxifen has, however, certain risks associated with it...
[19:43] DrGiurescu> and the decision to take it has to be made after careful discussion with your doctor.
[19:43] DrGiurescu> *
[19:43] ASKMarina> snsteele says: hi doctor, I have been told that breast cancer can appear in women as young as 15, is that true, and is there any preventative measures one can take in order not to have breast cancer?
[19:44] DrGiurescu> Breast cancer is exceptionally rare in women under the age of 35....
[19:46] DrGiurescu> The best way to check your breasts is by starting to have breast exams done yearly....
[19:46] DrGiurescu> by a doctor after age 20, and monthly breast self-exams starting at the same age.
[19:46] DrGiurescu> *
[19:46] ASKMarina> guest-butch says: How much is there to breast cancrer running in the family?
[19:47] DrGiurescu> After age, a family historyof breast cancer (mother, sister, grandmother in particular)...
[19:47] DrGiurescu> is the strongest risk factor. This is particularly important if your close....
[19:47] DrGiurescu> relative was diagnosed before menopause.
[19:47] DrGiurescu> *
[19:48] ASKMarina> corkytwo says: i'm 25 and just got breast implants how will that effect a mammogram and should i begin sooner
[19:48] DrGiurescu> Women with implants should get their baseline mammogram....
[19:48] DrGiurescu> at the same age as other women (35-40) and then begin annual screening....
[19:49] DrGiurescu> after 40.
[19:49] DrGiurescu> *
[19:49] ASKMarina> snsteele says: I understand that you have to have breast exams but I was told that there are drugs or herbal products out there to PREVENT breast cancer, is that true?
[19:50] DrGiurescu> Other than Tamoxifen (a drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer)...
[19:51] DrGiurescu> there are no other current FDA-approved medications in the fight to prevent breast cancer.
[19:51] DrGiurescu> *
[19:51] AccessAZ> Thanks Dr Giurescu for joining us today!
[19:51] AccessAZ> You gave us some great info
[19:52] AccessAZ> Thanks to everyone for joining us tonight!
[19:52] AccessAZ> Be sure to check AccessArizona.com for info about upcoming chats and more live medical events
[19:53] AccessAZ> Thanks also to the Phoenix Mercury for joining us tonight as well!