Do I really need an annual screening mammogram?

As a mammography technologist, I’m usually requested questions in regards to the want for breast imaging, in addition to breast well being normally. The straightforward reality is that screening mammograms yearly are essential for folks age 40 or older and for youthful folks with a household historical past of breast most cancers.

Early most cancers detection is vital

Early detection will increase a affected person’s survival price. On the first signal of any symptom or change within the breast, it’s crucial to contact your physician. Remember not all adjustments within the breast result in most cancers, nonetheless, all adjustments ought to be addressed.

In line with the American Cancer Society, early-stage breast cancers have a five-year survival price of virtually one hundred pc. Later-stage cancers have survival charges of 24 %. Breast cancer is just not at all times an inherited gene, which means simply since you would not have a household historical past doesn’t imply you haven’t any probability of getting breast most cancers. Actually, 90-95% of ladies who’ve breast most cancers don’t have any household historical past.

That appears clear, however I nonetheless encounter standard myths about mammograms. So, let’s have a look at why mammograms are vital and what to anticipate once you get one.

Why do I want a mammogram screening yearly?

You don’t have any signs, your mammogram was regular final 12 months and there’s no historical past of breast most cancers in your loved ones. So, a screening mammogram yearly is pointless, proper? Improper. Though there are some disagreements among the many well being specialists about when to start out your screening mammograms, most all agree that it’s best to begin your annual screenings at age 40.

In case you have a powerful household historical past – particularly in case you’ve had a member of your shut household recognized inside the final 10 years – your annual screenings ought to begin earlier than age 40.

Is a mammogram painful?

When you would possibly expertise a bit discomfort because of your breast being compressed, you shouldn’t expertise ache. Your breast shall be imaged one breast at a time and shall be compressed to a level that’s tolerable for you. Remember, compression is vital as a result of it spreads out the tissue, making the buildings of the breast extra seen.

Compression additionally smooths out areas that if not compressed might require you to have one other mammogram. However it’s best to solely really feel some strain. Bear in mind, within the grand scheme of issues, compressing the breast for just a few seconds might save your life.

Will I be uncovered to pointless mammogram radiation?

Trendy machines use low radiation doses to acquire high-quality breast pictures. The radiation publicity is properly inside medical pointers. The radiation publicity and examination process are additionally regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and inspected by the American College of Radiology.

In line with the American Cancer Society, the common dose for a typical mammogram with two views of every breast is about 0.4 millisieverts, or mSv, which is a measure of radiation dosage.

To place the dose into perspective, persons are usually uncovered to a mean of about 3 mSv of background radiation annually simply from their pure environment.

The dose of radiation used for a screening mammogram of each breasts is about the identical quantity of background radiation a lady would get from her pure environment over about seven weeks.

2D vs 3D mammograms

Whereas the positioning of a tomosynthesis 3D mammogram is similar as a traditional 2D mammogram, the pictures are a lot completely different. Tomosynthesis 3D mammography is rather more superior and should discover cancers presumably missed by typical 2D mammography.

Tomosynthesis permits the radiologist to have a look at the breast tissue in 1-millimeter slices for optimum viewing. With typical 2D mammography, the radiologist is viewing all of the complexities of your breast tissue in a single flat picture making it rather more tough to see doable abnormalities.

Tomosynthesis reduces the prospect of false positives, thus lowering affected person callbacks for extra imaging.

Mammography is efficient, however not the one software

Whereas screening mammograms are extremely beneficial, there are limitations. Not all breast cancers shall be discovered with mammography, nonetheless, screening is crucial. Additionally, keep vigilant along with your month-to-month breast exams and pay attention to any adjustments, even in case you lately had a destructive mammogram. Contact your doctor immediately if there are any adjustments in your breast.

If a lump is discovered, it isn’t at all times cancerous

Non-cancerous breast circumstances are frequent. Typically these benign breast circumstances trigger signs that mimic most cancers, making it exhausting to inform the distinction. In case your mammogram reveals a suspicious space, your suppliers will take further steps to determine the suspicious space. This would possibly require further pictures in mammography, ultrasound, or MRI.

Ladies with dense breast tissue can make the most of 3D mammography, breast MRI or breast ultrasound, to acquire further pictures. Bear in mind that if there are any adjustments in your breast construction, it’s possible you’ll get known as again for extra testing. That doesn’t imply you may have most cancers. That merely means it must be decided if these adjustments or regular for you.

Do I want a health care provider’s referral to schedule an examination?

In case you are of age 40 or older, many locations it’s possible you’ll go to your screening mammogram don’t require your physician to put in writing you a prescription or full an order type. Remember to test with the ability that you simply schedule with as these necessities might differ from facility to facility.

Your first mammogram, sometimes at age 40, will decide your “baseline.” A baseline merely outlines what’s your regular.

In case your mom, sister or daughter has been recognized with breast most cancers, focus on along with your well being care supplier when to start out screening mammograms. You might be suggested to start out having mammograms 10 years sooner than the age that your relative was recognized with breast most cancers. Mammograms might begin as early as age 25 relying upon your supplier and amenities protocols.

Final Up to date: Might 24, 2023