Common mammography myths you may believe can have a serious impact on long-term health.
Isn't skipping your annual mammogram this year a big deal? Or worried that a mammogram uses too much radiation?
For women ages 40 and older, annual mammograms help detect breast cancer early, leading to more successful treatment and a higher survival rate.
Myth 1: I have no symptoms or family history of breast cancer, so do I have to get annual mammograms?
Fact: American College of Radiology recommends annual screening mammography for all women over age 40, regardless of symptoms or family history. “Early detection is critical.” If you want to wait for your mammogram until you have symptoms of breast cancer, at that point the cancer may be more advanced and may no longer be curable. The five-year survival rate for early stage breast cancer is 99 percent. The survival rate for more advanced cancers is 24 percent.
Ninety percent of women with breast cancer have no family history. Most cases of breast cancer are caused by spontaneous genetic changes in the individual and are not necessarily related to family history or the breast cancer gene.
Myth 2: Mammography exposes me to high doses of radiation.
Fact: The amount of radiation used in mammography is very low and within the medical acceptable level. Since mammography is a screening tool, its rules are highly regulated. If the facility you go to is approved by the Ministry of Health, it is safe.
Myth 3: A 3D mammogram is the same as a traditional mammogram.
Fact: Three dimensional mammography or tomosynthesis is the most modern screening and diagnostic method available for the early detection of breast cancer. Compared to a standard 2D mammography, more images of the breast are obtained in 3D mammography. 3-dimensional mammograms allow us to more accurately determine the difference between normal tissue and cancer. The data obtained with three-dimensional mammography allows us to be 40% more successful in early cancer detection.
Myth 4: There is something in my breast. If there is any type of cancer, screening mammography is guaranteed to find it.
Fact:Annual mammography is very important for women, but there are limitations. This is mostly due to dense breast tissue. Normal breast tissue can hide and mimic a cancer. For women with dense breast tissue, other imaging methods such as breast MRI or breast ultrasound may be used.
Myth 5: I had a normal mammogram last year, so I need something else this year none.
Fact: Mammography is a method of detecting cancer, not preventing it. Having a normal mammogram is great news, but it doesn't guarantee that future mammograms will be normal. The largest study in history showed a 33 percent drop in breast cancer deaths in women over age 40 who got regular screening mammograms.
Myth 6: The doctor didn't tell me I needed a mammogram , I guess I don't need to have it taken?
Fact: You don't need to write a prescription or fill out a request form to have a screening mammogram. Starting at age 40, you should have a mammogram every year, even if your doctor forgets to mention it.
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