Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Note: There are new recommendations about when to have mammograms. We are working to update our breast cancer screening content to reflect these changes. The key points below about the benefits and possible risks of screening mammograms can still help you and your doctor decide what is right for you. This information is for women who are choosing to have screening mammograms and who are at average risk for breast cancer. It is not for women who are at high risk. If you don't already know your breast cancer risk, you can ask your doctor. Or you can go to www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/ to look it up. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is used to look for breast cancer. There are two types of mammograms. This decision aid is about screening mammograms. Mammograms can find some breast cancers early, when the cancer may be more easily treated. Often a mammogram can find cancers that are too small for you or your doctor to feel. Studies show that a small number of women who have mammograms may be less likely to die from breast cancer. Each time you have a mammogram, there is a risk that the test: Experts agree that mammograms are the best screening test for women at average risk. But they don't all agree on the age at which a woman should start or whether it is better for her to be screened every year or every two years. Here are some of the recommendations from experts: When to stop having mammograms is another decision. You and your doctor can decide on the right age to stop screening based on your personal preferences and overall health. Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. No one in my family has ever had breast cancer. So I'm not at high risk for getting it. I talked with my doctor about this, and I read all of the information I could. My doctor says it's my decision, but she is here to answer any questions and talk it over. I'm worried about false positives. I have a friend who has had two biopsies, and many sleepless nights, and it turned out to be nothing. I'm having a tough time deciding. I think for me the best decision is no decision. I'll keep reading and thinking about it. I'm okay with this. Keiko, 41 I've already talked to my doctor about getting a mammogram when I turn 40 next year. Taking action is really important to me when it comes to my health. My older sister started having mammograms when she turned 40. She got a call once because they found something on her mammogram, but after more testing it turned out to be nothing serious. I want to have that reassurance—the peace of mind is worth it to me. Jaime, 39 I'm not really worried about getting breast cancer, so I've decided to wait until I'm 50 to start having mammograms. I just turned 40, and I've always been healthy and active. Plus, I don't have any extra risk factors. In the meantime, I'm going to mention any changes I notice in my breasts to my doctor. Helen, 40 My friend was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer after finding a lump in her breast when she was 48. She didn't have any risk factors for the disease, so she hadn't had any mammograms before then. I can't help but think that maybe if she'd had a mammogram a year or two before, the cancer may have been found earlier. I'm not at high risk for breast cancer either, but I'm going to keep having my yearly mammogram just to be sure nothing is wrong. Sally, 46 I travel a lot for my job, and my days are often crammed with back-to-back meetings, so trying to schedule a mammogram is a challenge. But I've managed to do it, and all my mammograms have been normal. Some doctors say that it's okay for women to start having mammograms at 50. I think that's reasonable, and I don't feel like I would be putting myself at much greater risk for missing a cancer by waiting until I'm 50 to get my next one. Bella, 44 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to start mammograms at age 40 (or anytime in your 40s) Reasons to start mammograms at age 50 I'm worried that I might get breast cancer at an earlier age. I'm not too worried that I might get breast cancer at an earlier age. I think starting mammograms earlier is worth the increased risk of having a false-positive test result if it could find cancer early. I think the chance of having a false-positive test result is more likely than the test finding a real problem if I start having mammograms earlier. I'm not afraid to have a biopsy or other tests if my doctor sees a problem on the mammogram. I don't want to have a biopsy or other tests that I may not need. I'm not afraid of being exposed to small doses of radiation each time I have a mammogram. I don't want to be exposed to any more radiation than is necessary. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Start mammograms at age 40 (or anytime in your 40s) Start mammograms at age 50 Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Note: There are new recommendations about when to have mammograms. We are working to update our breast cancer screening content to reflect these changes. The key points below about the benefits and possible risks of screening mammograms can still help you and your doctor decide what is right for you. This information is for women who are choosing to have screening mammograms and who are at average risk for breast cancer. It is not for women who are at high risk. If you don't already know your breast cancer risk, you can ask your doctor. Or you can go to www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/ to look it up. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is used to look for breast cancer. There are two types of mammograms. This decision aid is about screening mammograms. Mammograms can find some breast cancers early, when the cancer may be more easily treated. Often a mammogram can find cancers that are too small for you or your doctor to feel. Studies show that a small number of women who have mammograms may be less likely to die from breast cancer. Each time you have a mammogram, there is a risk that the test: Experts agree that mammograms are the best screening test for women at average risk. But they don't all agree on the age at which a woman should start or whether it is better for her to be screened every year or every two years. Here are some of the recommendations from experts: When to stop having mammograms is another decision. You and your doctor can decide on the right age to stop screening based on your personal preferences and overall health. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "No one in my family has ever had breast cancer. So I'm not at high risk for getting it. I talked with my doctor about this, and I read all of the information I could. My doctor says it's my decision, but she is here to answer any questions and talk it over. I'm worried about false positives. I have a friend who has had two biopsies, and many sleepless nights, and it turned out to be nothing. I'm having a tough time deciding. I think for me the best decision is no decision. I'll keep reading and thinking about it. I'm okay with this." — Keiko, 41 "I've already talked to my doctor about getting a mammogram when I turn 40 next year. Taking action is really important to me when it comes to my health. My older sister started having mammograms when she turned 40. She got a call once because they found something on her mammogram, but after more testing it turned out to be nothing serious. I want to have that reassurance—the peace of mind is worth it to me." — Jaime, 39 "I'm not really worried about getting breast cancer, so I've decided to wait until I'm 50 to start having mammograms. I just turned 40, and I've always been healthy and active. Plus, I don't have any extra risk factors. In the meantime, I'm going to mention any changes I notice in my breasts to my doctor." — Helen, 40 "My friend was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer after finding a lump in her breast when she was 48. She didn't have any risk factors for the disease, so she hadn't had any mammograms before then. I can't help but think that maybe if she'd had a mammogram a year or two before, the cancer may have been found earlier. I'm not at high risk for breast cancer either, but I'm going to keep having my yearly mammogram just to be sure nothing is wrong." — Sally, 46 "I travel a lot for my job, and my days are often crammed with back-to-back meetings, so trying to schedule a mammogram is a challenge. But I've managed to do it, and all my mammograms have been normal. Some doctors say that it's okay for women to start having mammograms at 50. I think that's reasonable, and I don't feel like I would be putting myself at much greater risk for missing a cancer by waiting until I'm 50 to get my next one." — Bella, 44 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to start mammograms at age 40 (or anytime in your 40s) Reasons to start mammograms at age 50 I'm worried that I might get breast cancer at an earlier age. I'm not too worried that I might get breast cancer at an earlier age. I think starting mammograms earlier is worth the increased risk of having a false-positive test result if it could find cancer early. I think the chance of having a false-positive test result is more likely than the test finding a real problem if I start having mammograms earlier. I'm not afraid to have a biopsy or other tests if my doctor sees a problem on the mammogram. I don't want to have a biopsy or other tests that I may not need. I'm not afraid of being exposed to small doses of radiation each time I have a mammogram. I don't want to be exposed to any more radiation than is necessary. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Start mammograms at age 40 (or anytime in your 40s) Start mammograms at age 50 1.
Does the risk of breast cancer go up as you get older? 2.
Can having mammograms help save lives? 3.
If your mammogram shows an abnormal result, does that mean you have breast cancer? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: November 27, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardBreast Cancer Screening: When Should I Start Having Mammograms?
Breast Cancer Screening: When Should I Start Having Mammograms?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is a mammogram?
What are the benefits of having a mammogram?
What are the risks of having a mammogram?
When do experts advise starting mammograms?
Compare your options
Personal stories about when to start having mammograms
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Breast Cancer Screening: When Should I Start Having Mammograms?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is a mammogram?
What are the benefits of having a mammogram?
What are the risks of having a mammogram?
When do experts advise starting mammograms?
2. Compare your options
Start mammograms at age 40 Start mammograms at age 50 What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about when to start having mammograms
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Start mammograms at age 40 Start mammograms at age 40
Start mammograms at age 50 Start mammograms at age 50
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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
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That's right. The risk for breast cancer goes up as you get older. In general, women younger than 50 are at a lower risk for breast cancer.
That's right. Studies show that a small number of women who have mammograms may be less likely to die from breast cancer.
That's right. Mammograms may show an abnormal result when it turns out there wasn't any cancer (called a false-positive). This means you may need more tests—such as another mammogram, a breast ultrasound, or a biopsy—to make sure you don't have cancer. These tests can be harmful and cause a lot of worry.
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