Lidocaine Eases Discomfort Associated With Mammograms
July 22nd, 2008 | by admin |
Women undergoing mammograms maybe at greater ease during the procedure with the addition of lidocaine gel, which is a type of topical analgesic.
“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.
For women undergoing mammograms, the ordeal, as many see it as can be painful, embarrassing and very uncomfortable. With the addition of the lidocaine gel, more women may feel more at ease and would not postpone the procedure.
For the study, prospective mammogram recipients were assigned to either pre-mammography acetaminophen, ibuprofen, a topical 4 percent lidocaine gel, or an oral or topical placebo.
Those participants who used the lidocaine reported much less in the form of breast discomfort.
The study is published in the July 22 issue of Radiology.
