What Is a Screening Mammogram?

Diagnostic and screening mammogram are an important tool in diagnosing breast cancer. By taking an X-ray of the breast (i.e., a mammogram), primary care physicians can detect tumors and calcium deposits (microcalcifications). This article will cover screening mammograms, why someone may need one, and what to expect when receiving one.

Diagnostic vs. screening mammograms

The primary difference between diagnostic and screening mammograms is why a patient may need one. A screening mammogram is necessary when the patient has not experienced any signs of breast cancer; it is a preventative health screening. The goal is to find cancer in its earliest stages because treatment will be easier and more effective. In some cases, it is possible to treat breast cancer before the patient experiences any pain or discomfort.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer include breast pain, lumps in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, changes in the thickness of the breast’s skin, and nipple discharge. A diagnostic mammogram will be necessary if a patient notices these symptoms or the physician notices any abnormalities in the screening mammogram. These are comprehensive, as the medical provider will take X-rays at various angles to get a clearer picture. The physician will take X-rays from only two angles in a screening mammogram.

When a screening mammogram is recommended

The recommendations for screening mammograms vary by age and risk factor. According to the American Cancer Society, patients between the ages of 40 and 54 should get screened for breast cancer once annually because they are at an average risk. Screenings may be scheduled once every two years, starting at 55 years of age.

However, if a patient has a family history of breast cancer, a physician may recommend screening as early as 10 years before the age of a relative's diagnosis. For example, if one's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 45, then it may be wise to start getting screening mammograms as young as 35.

Are there any risks?

Many patients express concern with the radiation emitted during X-rays. However, the level of radiation emitted during screening mammograms is minimal. The benefits of early detection of breast cancer far outweigh the minimal radiation exposure.

Other risks include the potential for false negatives and false positives. In a false negative, the screening mammogram will come back clear, failing to detect the presence of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, about one in five screening mammograms report false-negative results. A false positive, on the other hand, is when the screening mammogram comes back abnormal despite the absence of breast cancer. A secondary test will be ordered (usually, this is a diagnostic mammogram, but it could also be an ultrasound or biopsy) to determine whether the abnormality indicates cancer.

Schedule a comprehensive breast exam

Screening mammograms should be integrated into one’s routine health checkup starting at age 40. In some cases, it can help to start screening for breast cancer earlier. Call our office to schedule a breast exam and mammogram.

Request an appointment here: https://hoadly.millenniummedicalcare.com or call Millennium Medical Care Manassas at (703) 673-1558 for an appointment in our Manassas office.

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