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A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast, used to find early signs of
breast cancer that cannot be felt during a breast exam. There are two kinds,
and they answer different questions.
Screening versus diagnostic
| Screening mammogram | Diagnostic mammogram | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Women with no signs or symptoms | People with a lump or other signs — breast pain, thickened skin, nipple discharge, a change in size or shape — and those with implants or breast tissue that is otherwise hard to view |
| What it takes | Less time | A little longer |
| What it is asking | Is there anything here? | What is this thing? |
Those signs can also come from a benign breast condition, so a diagnostic
mammogram is a question, not a verdict.
The case for screening, and the case against
For: regular screening mammograms reduce the number of deaths from breast
cancer among women aged 40 to 74, because finding a cancer early means
treatment can start earlier — possibly before it has spread.
Against, stated as plainly:
- They can find something that looks abnormal and is not cancer, leading
to more testing and real anxiety. - They can miss a cancer that is there.
- They expose you to radiation.
Both lists are true at once, which is why this is framed as a decision. Talk
to your provider about the benefits and drawbacks, and decide together when to
start and how often to go.
What happens on the day
You stand in front of an x-ray machine, and the person taking the images
places your breast between two plastic plates that press it flat. It can be
uncomfortable; the flattening is what produces a clear picture. Both breasts
are x-rayed from the front and from the side.
A radiologist — a doctor with specific training — reads the images,
looking for early signs of cancer or other problems. Results usually arrive
within a few weeks depending on the clinic, and sooner if they are not normal.
Ask, before you leave, when and how you will get them.
If the result is not normal
An abnormal mammogram does not always mean cancer. More mammograms, tests
or exams are needed before anyone can say. You may be referred to a breast
specialist or a surgeon — and that referral is not a statement that you have
cancer or need surgery. Those doctors are simply the experts at diagnosing
breast problems, which is the question still open.
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Lizenz: CC0 1.0 (gemeinfrei) · Bearbeitet nach medlineplus.gov
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