Screening mammography is a cornerstone of women’s health care, but myths about this important type of breast imaging persist. Let’s debunk some common ones and explore key mammogram facts.
1. Myth: Regular mammograms are only for older women.
Fact: One out of every six breast cancers develops in women ages 40 to 49, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR). As a result, the organization recommends annual screening mammograms for women at average risk of breast cancer beginning at age 40. Women at higher risk should start having screening mammograms earlier, as recommended by their physician, and may need additional forms of imaging, such as breast MRI. The ACR recommends that all women discuss their breast cancer risk with their physician by age 25.
2. Myth: You only need an annual screening mammogram if you have a family history of breast cancer.
Fact: Not having a close relative who’s had breast cancer doesn’t mean you’ll avoid the disease. Your breast cancer risk nearly doubles if your mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Most women who develop breast cancer, however, don’t have a history of it in their family.
3. Myth: Screening mammograms aren’t accurate.
Fact: Screening mammograms don’t detect every breast cancer every time, but they’re the most effective form of screening for breast cancer currently available. Among their many benefits, regular mammograms can find breast cancer in its early stages, sometimes years before you can see or feel it. Finding breast cancer early can lead to less invasive treatment and a better chance of survival.
4. Myth: Mammograms can cause breast cancer.
Fact: Mammograms do not cause breast cancer. They take X-ray pictures of the breast, which produces low-level radiation exposure. Frequent radiation exposure may increase breast cancer risk, but the benefits of regular mammograms, including early detection of breast cancer, far outweigh the slight increase in risk of radiation-related cancer.
5. Myth: You don’t need an annual screening mammogram if you conduct regular breast self-exams.
Fact: Breast self-exams shouldn’t take the place of getting a screening mammogram each year. These exams can help you familiarize yourself with how your breasts typically look and feel, but you may miss small breast cancers that don’t show up as lumps. A mammogram, on the other hand, can detect them.
6. Myth: Mammograms don’t show cancer in women with dense breasts.
Fact: Dense breast tissue makes cancer more difficult to see on mammograms because both dense breast tissue and tumors can appear white in the images. Still, mammograms can detect most cancers in women with dense breast tissue. If you have dense breasts, you should still get screened every year. Digital breast tomosynthesis — also known as 3D digital mammography — may be more effective at detecting cancers in women with dense breasts than 2D mammography.
7. Myth: Mammograms are painful.
Fact: You may feel discomfort when your breast is compressed with a paddle during your mammogram, but it shouldn’t be painful. Compression holds the breast still during the exam and spreads out the tissue to help the mammography technologist obtain clear, accurate images. Tell the technologist if you experience pain. To reduce discomfort, have your mammogram when you’re not on your period so your breasts will be less tender.
8. Myth: An abnormal mammogram finding means you have breast cancer.
Fact: Not necessarily. Many mammograms find benign, or noncancerous, changes to the breast. If you receive an abnormal result, you’ll need additional imaging, such as a diagnostic mammogram, breast ultrasound, or MRI, to investigate further. Your physician may also order a breast biopsy, which is the only way to determine for sure whether an abnormality is cancerous.
9. Myth: Mammograms can prevent breast cancer.
Fact: Mammograms can’t stop breast cancer from developing. Their value lies in their ability to find breast cancers when they’re small and haven’t spread beyond the breast, which makes them easier to treat.
10. Myth: If your mammogram is normal, you don’t need to get screened again.
Fact: A normal result is great, but it’s no excuse to stop having annual screening mammograms. Your annual mammogram is a snapshot in time. It shows the condition of your breasts now, but they may change. Having a mammogram every year increases the chance of detecting any potentially cancerous changes.
