Mammograms can find breast cancer early
You are more likely to survive breast cancer if it is found early and is still small. Mammograms can show changes inside a breast before they can be felt.
While some cancers develop quite slowly over years, others can grow more quickly. It is important to find any cancer as early as possible before it grows and spreads.
That is why it is important to get a regular mammogram every 2 years — it gives you the best chance of picking up any changes. You just need to sign up to get an appointment time.
Benefits and harms of screening mammograms
It is your choice whether or not to have regular mammograms to check for breast cancer. To help you decide, here are the benefits and risks of regular mammograms.
Benefits
Screening mammograms save lives by finding breast cancer early, when it can be treated before it grows or spreads to other parts of the body. Having regular mammograms can reduce your risk of dying from breast cancer by more than a third.
A mammogram helps find cancer as early as possible because it can show changes inside a breast before anything can be felt. You are more likely to survive breast cancer when cancers are found early and are small.
Breast cancers detected through screening are usually smaller and less likely to have spread to other parts of the body than cancers discovered through other ways, such as feeling a lump yourself. Finding breast cancers early could mean less extensive treatments and better long-term outcomes.
In women aged 45 to 69, mammograms can find between 8 and 9 out of 10 cancers. It is still important to look for any changes to your breasts between mammograms, and to talk to your GP or other healthcare provider about these immediately.
Eligible women aged 45 to 69 can get a free mammogram every 2 years. Once you sign up, we will send you an appointment time, and you will get a reminder every 2 years.
Sign up for your 2-yearly mammogram (internal link)
Risks and harms
A screening mammogram can find small breast cancers that would not be found if you were not screened. Some of these cancers might never grow enough during your lifetime to become life-threatening. This is true for up to 1 in 10 of the cancers found by breast screening. This is called overdiagnosis.
It is not possible to tell which of these cancers are going to become harmful and which will not, so treatment will be offered for every cancer. You will be able to discuss your treatment options with your specialist.
A mammogram may look normal even if there is cancer somewhere in a breast. In women aged 45 to 69, about 1 or 2 out of 10 cancers are not found by mammograms.
A mammogram is an X-ray, and this exposes you to a small amount of radiation, but this is unlikely to cause harm. The amount of radiation is even smaller with digital mammograms.
A mammogram can be uncomfortable or even painful for some women and can be a source of concern. You can talk to the staff at the mammogram clinic about how you are feeling, or your healthcare provider or practice nurse.
Remember, you can take a support person with you when you have your mammogram.
Checking for symptoms
Even if you are having regular mammograms, watch out for changes in your breasts. Occasionally a cancer can develop and be diagnosed between mammograms (this is called an interval cancer). If you find something concerning, do not wait for your next mammogram — see your GP or other healthcare provider.
About breast cancer
There is no certain way to prevent breast cancer, however it is widely accepted that early detection saves lives and improves treatment outcomes when it is diagnosed.
That is why it is important to be aware of any changes to your breasts and to have regular mammograms.
There are some things that can increase or reduce your risk.
Risk factors for breast cancer
Being female and increasing age are the most important risk factors for breast cancer. Other things that can increase your risk of breast cancer include:
- a previous diagnosis of breast cancer
- strong family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both
- inheriting a faulty gene
- exposure to repeated high-dose radiation
- a previous breast biopsy showing a condition that increases risk
- having dense breasts.
Talk to your GP or healthcare provider about your personal risk of breast cancer.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, you have a slightly greater chance of developing the disease. But most women who have a family history will not get breast cancer. The majority of women who get breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
Women at high risk of breast cancer, for example those with a strong family history of breast cancer, or those with gene mutations, should discuss management with their GP or other healthcare provider.
You may have heard about breast density, which can make it harder to diagnose breast cancer from a mammogram and may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. BSA does not currently measure or report breast density.
Reducing your risk of breast cancer
The risk of breast cancer may be reduced by:
- maintaining a healthy weight after menopause
- exercising regularly
- limiting alcohol intake and stopping smoking.
Menopause hormone therapy (previously called hormone replacement therapy or HRT)
If you are taking menopause hormone therapy, it can make it slightly harder for an x-ray to show what is happening inside your breast.
Finding cancer early
You are more likely to survive breast cancer if it is found early and is still small.
Mammograms can show changes inside a breast before they can be felt. That is why it is important you get a regular screening mammogram every 2 years — it gives you the best chance of picking up any changes.