Seven myths about mammograms

Are you considering skipping your annual mammogram this year? Do you consider a breast self-exam sufficient enough?  These may be some concerns for many women who might be avoiding a yearly mammogram once past the age of 40.  But mammograms are one of the best tools modern medicine has developed to find and fight against breast cancer.  All women who are approaching the age or 40 or are already past that age should discuss with their healthcare provider when to begin having regular mammograms. At age 50, regular screening mammograms are recommended for all women. Depending on family history and your own individual health history, can help determine what age to start mammogram screenings best for you.

Women often have questions about mammograms.  They want answers on their safety, accuracy, and expense.  To uncover the truth, here are seven common mammogram myths that are dispelled:

Myth #1 - Since I have no history of breast cancer in my family, an annual mammogram is not necessary.

Fact: The American College of Radiology recommends annual screening mammograms for all women over 40, regardless of symptoms or family history. Early detection is critical.  If you wait until you have symptoms of breast cancer, such as a lump or discharge, at that point the cancer may be more advanced and may no longer be curable. According to the American Cancer Society, early-stage breast cancers have a five-year survival rate of 99 percent. Later-stage cancers have survival rates of only 24 percent.

Myth #2 – Mammograms can only detect signs of cancer when it’s too late to treat it

Fact:  Mammograms can healthcare providers find breast cancer in early stages.

Myth #3 – Breast self-exams are just as effective as mammograms

Fact:  Studies have shown that breast self-exams alone are not enough to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths. Getting regular mammograms and breast examinations by a healthcare provider are the best way to screen for breast cancer.

Myth #4 – Mammograms will expose me to unsafe levels of radiation

Fact:  Mammograms do expose the breasts to small amounts of radiation. But the benefits of mammography outweigh any possible harm from the radiation exposure.  Modern machines use low radiation doses to get breast x-rays that are high in image quality. On average the total dose for a typical mammogram with 2 views of each breast is about 0.4 millisieverts, or mSV. To put that does in perspective, people in the U.S. are normally exposed to an average of about 3 mSv of radiation each year just from their natural surroundings or what is called background radiation. The dose of radiation used for a screening mammogram of both breasts is about the same amount of radiation a woman would get from her natural surroundings over about 7 weeks. While the benefits of mammography generally outweigh the risks, all women should speak with their healthcare provider about the frequency of mammograms.

Myth #5 – A screening mammogram is guaranteed to find any type of cancer in breast tissue

Fact:  While annual mammograms are very important for women, there are limitations. The main limitation is women who have dense breast tissue or dense breasts. Dense breast tissue refers to the appearance of breast tissue on a mammogram. Breast tissue is composed of milk grans, milk ducts, and supportive tissue (dense breast tissue), and fatty tissue (nondense breast tissue). When viewed on a mammogram, women with dense breasts have more dense tissue than fatty tissue. On a mammogram, nondense breast tissue appears dark and transparent making it easy for a radiologist to find any possible cancerous masses.  Dense breast tissue appears as a solid white area on a mammogram, the same as a cancerous mass would look like, which makes it difficult to see through. The denser the breasts, the more likely it is that a cancer will be hidden by the tissue. 

To combat this problem, there are now 3-D mammograms that provide greater clarity and ability to determine the difference between normal tissue and cancer. With 3-D mammography, data shows a 40 percent increase in detecting early cancer and a 40 percent decrease in false alarms or unnecessary recalls from screening. There are also other imaging tests that can be used for women with dense breast tissue, such as breast MRI or breast ultrasound to obtain additional images.

If you are not sure if you have dense breasts or not, ask your healthcare provider.  If you do, be sure when you schedule your mammogram, to request a 3-D mammogram to be used.

Myth #6 – Mammograms are too expensive to have yearly

Fact:  Insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act cover screening mammograms every 1 to 2 years for women age 40 and older without charging a co-pay.  In many states, Medicaid and public employee health plans cover screening mammograms. Women should check with their healthcare insurance company to confirm their coverage and cost.

Myth #7 – Since my mammogram last year was normal, I don’t need another one this year

Fact: Mammography is detection, not prevention. Just because your mammogram was normal this year does not mean that future mammograms will also always be normal. The largest studies have shown a 33 percent decrease in death from breast cancer in women over 40 who had regular screening mammograms.