When Should You Get a Mammogram?

You don’t need symptoms or any family history of breast cancer to receive screenings. While routine cancer screenings may be a source of anxiety, mammograms are quick, safe, and essential for your overall health. By better understanding mammograms, you could make an informed decision about incorporating them into your medical life.

How does a mammogram work?

A mammogram works by using a special low-dose X-ray machine to scan breast tissue for abnormalities. Mammogram machines use two plates that flatten the breast, which spreads the dense breast tissue out. It’s easier for X-rays to scan the compressed tissue, so mammograms can use a smaller dose of radiation than a standard X-ray to produce a quality image. Standard mammograms take scans from two different angles (up-and-down and side-to-side).¹

Doctors may also use three-dimensional (3D) mammograms. Instead of scanning the breast in only two angles, 3D mammograms take many low-dose X-rays in an arc around the breast. These types of mammograms create a more detailed image of the breast tissue for doctors and may be especially useful for people with dense breast tissue.²

Mammograms identify abnormalities in breast tissue so doctors and patients can proceed with more diagnostic tests. An irregularity on a mammogram doesn’t mean you certainly have breast cancer. However, it’s essential to follow up with continued diagnostic tests following abnormalities. Types of breast tissue changes that a mammogram may identify include:¹

• Asymmetry between dense breast tissue
• Masses, both noncancerous and cancerous
• Calcification or hardening
• Various distortions

After you reach a certain age, mammograms can become a vital tool for monitoring your health and living your best life.

When should you start getting breast cancer screenings?

People with an average risk of breast cancer should begin getting screenings in their 40s. The risk of getting this type of cancer increases as you get older, so regular screenings become more important. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (UPSTF) findings recommend regular mammograms starting between the ages of 40 to 44 to improve early detection.³

While breast cancer can be rare in younger people, cases in that population are on the rise. Plus, some studies suggest that new 3D mammograms may be more accurate and limit false positives.²

If you have a high risk for breast cancer, you may want to start receiving mammograms starting at age 30. Some risk factors include:³

• Have a lifetime breast cancer risk of 20%-25% or greater based primarily on family history
• Presence of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene change based on genetic testing
• Have a first-degree relative (parents, siblings or child) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene change
• Had radiation therapy to the chest before the age of 30
• Have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome