Think it’s not a problem if you miss your annual mammogram this year? Or are you worried about too much radiation being used in mammography?
Annual mammography for women 40 and older helps detect breast cancer earlier, leading to less aggressive treatment and higher survival rates.
#I: I have no breast cancer symptoms or family history, so there is no need for an annual mammogram.
If you wait for a mammogram until you have symptoms of breast cancer, such as a lump or discharge, cancer may be more advanced at this stage.
Fact: Annual screening mammograms for women over 40 are highly recommended regardless of symptoms or family history.
#2: A mammogram can exposes one to a risky level of radiation.
Because mammography is a screening tool, it is highly regulated by the FDA(food and drug authority), the Mammography Quality, and Standards Act, and other government agencies.
A mammogram is safe as long as the facility you visit is certified by regulatory bodies. There is a constant background radiation in the world that we are exposed to every day.
The radiation dose from a mammogram is about two months of background radiation for the average woman.
Fact: Although a mammogram uses radiation, it is a very small amount and is within medical guidelines.
# 3: A 3D mammogram is similar to a conventional mammogram.
Compared to a standard 2D mammogram, a 3D mammogram displays more images of the breast and in thin sections of breast tissue.
“3D mammograms give us greater clarity and the ability to determine the difference between normal tissue overlap and cancer.”
Fact: Three-dimensional mammography, or tomosynthesis, is the most modern screening and diagnostic tool available for the early detection of breast cancer.
Screening, mammography, and diagnostics Breast imaging experts explain what breast imaging is and the difference between screening and diagnostic mammography.
# 4: A mammogram is guaranteed to detect any type of cancer in my breast tissue.
Normal breast tissue can hide cancer and mimic cancer.
Fact: While yearly mammograms are very important for women, there are limitations due to the dense breast tissue – the denser the breast, the more likely the cancer will be hidden by the tissue.
# 5: You can skip your mammogram if you had a normal mammogram last year.
Having a mammogram every year increases the chance of detecting cancer when it is small and when it is easiest to treat, which also improves survival.
Fact: Mammography is detection, not prevention. “A normal mammogram is great news, but it doesn’t guarantee that mammography will be normal in the future.
# 6: My doctor didn’t order a mammogram for me, so I don’t need it.
Women can make an appointment for an annual mammogram on their own to detect breast cancer earlier. Women age 40 years and older should have a mammogram every year, even if the doctor forgot to mention it.
Fact: You don’t need a doctor to write you a prescription or fill out a mammogram order form.