Talk with your health care provider about which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk of breast cancer. Ask whether you should start getting mammograms, or other screening tests, before age 40 and how often you should have them.

As we learn more about individual risk, we may be able to determine who will benefit most from any given screening test. Women are encouraged to discuss their screening options with their health care providers.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms can spot tumors when they are very small – too small to feel. Overall, mammograms are the best breast cancer screening tool available today for most women.

Proper compression during a mammogram is important to make sure it’s as accurate as possible. The pressure you feel during the mammogram may be uncomfortable but should not be painful and only lasts a minute or so. Let your technologist know if you are worried about possible discomfort so she can help you be as comfortable as possible.

A screening mammogram, includes 2 views of each breast – top to bottom…and side to side.

The entire exam takes only a few minutes.

If you do not receive your results within 2 weeks, call your doctor’s office to follow-up.

You may be asked to return for additional images. Breasts vary greatly in size and texture, and sometimes more views are needed to get a better image of a specific area to complete the exam. It’s normal to worry, but even if a follow-up mammogram shows something abnormal, most abnormal findings are not breast cancer.

You're exposed to a small amount of radiation during a mammogram. While the radiation exposure during mammography can increase the risk of breast cancer over time, this increase in risk is very small.

A clinical breast exam (or CBE) is a physical exam done by a health care provider. It’s often done during your regular medical check-up.

Your provider should visually check the appearance of your breasts and then physically examine your breasts and underarm areas. Sometimes breast cancer can be felt during a clinical exam, but not seen on a mammogram.

Annual mammograms and clinical breast exams complement each other and can be important for screening in women ages 40 and older.

Organizations differ in their recommendations for when and how often to get mammograms and clinical breast exams. Discuss breast cancer screening with your doctor to decide when you should begin having mammograms and clinical breast exams and how often you should have them.