FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS/MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MAMMOGRAPHY

I had a mammogram the other day. I just received a phone call that I have to go back in for extra pictures. Does this mean I have cancer?

Because the radiologists who interpret your mammogram studies are very thorough, there are times when they feel it is in your best interest to come back in for additional mammogram pictures. Sometimes this involves compressing a particular area of the breast to see the tissue more clearly, and sometimes this involves magnification to see tiny calcium deposits. There are times when an ultrasound will be ordered to further evaluate a density seen on your mammogram. In any event, the overwhelming majority of these call-back studies are negative, or benign. It is important to comply with the radiologist's request to come back in, however, since a small percentage of women will have abnormalities which need to be biopsied (see biopsy information below) and an even smaller number of women will actually have cancer, often detected at a very early stage, which increases the success of treatment options.

I am afraid of getting a mammogram because I have been told it hurts.

In order to get a good picture of the breast, the tissue must be firmly compressed. While some women find this to be temporarily uncomfortable, it should not be overly painful. To help ease the possible discomfort, steps that can be taken include:

• Schedule your appointment 1-3 weeks following the first day of your menstrual period. • Decrease the amount of caffeine you drink 3-5 days before the appointment • Take ibuprofen two hours before your appointment

I don't have to worry because no one in my family has breast cancer.

Although having one or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer increases a woman’s risk, more than 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have NO family history of this disease. The two biggest risk factors are being a woman and advancing age, as most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.

If I'm going to get breast cancer, there is nothing I can do about it.

We don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer. However, we do know that the earlier that breast cancer is found, the more treatment options there are and the better the chance a woman has of saving her breast and her life. Women diagnosed with breast cancer early have a five-year survival rate of over 96%. Early detection is important.

Can having too many mammograms cause breast cancer?

The amount of radiation exposure from a mammogram is 0.2 rads, which is less than a dental X-ray. Studies have indicated that the cancer-causing potential of radiation decreases as women age. After the age of 40, there is little evidence that breast cancer can be caused by exposure to low levels of radiation.

Statistically speaking, the theoretical increased risk of death caused by the low-level of radiation involved in a mammogram is similar to the following activities: breathing Boston or New York City air for two days, biking ten miles, driving 300 miles, or flying one thousand miles in a jet. The risk is not statistically significant when compared to the “risky” things we do every day. Furthermore, the risk of not finding a breast cancer early because a mammogram is not performed outweighs the risk of developing cancer from mammography-induced radiation.

My breasts are too small/large to get a mammogram.

Every woman has a different body shape. The certified mammography technologist is trained to do mammograms on women with different-sized breasts. Keep in mind that occasionally men need to get mammograms, and they are successfully imaged using the same technique and equipment.

In women who have breast implants, additional pictures are required to push (displace) the implants away from the breast tissue. Implants can hide some areas of the breast, but using special techniques increases the overall amount of breast tissue that can be seen.

Are breast ultrasound or breast MRI as good as mammography in screening for breast cancer?

Although advances are being made in the evaluation of breast disease by these other modalities, only mammography is currently approved and recommended for a screening test.

Breast ultrasound and MRI operate on different principles than mammography. Breast ultrasound uses sound waves and breast MRI relies upon a magnetic field with pulses of radiowave energy. In some cases, breast ultrasound and MRI can complement mammography and can help in problem-solving. However, both ultrasound and MRI may result in falsely positive and falsely negative work-ups. In other words, some abnormalities may be detected that are not due to breast cancer or other real concerns, whereas on the other hand, some cases of breast cancer may be missed.

The breast specialist radiologist, sometimes in conjunction with a surgeon or your doctor, will determine whether any imaging other than mammography is necessary for you.

My mammogram is negative, so the lump I feel is nothing to worry about.

Although mammograms are currently the best screening test for breast cancer, they are not perfect and have some limitations. Up to 10% of breast cancers do not show up on a mammogram. If you feel a lump, but have a normal mammogram, it is important to see your doctor and to have the lump evaluated. Your doctor will decide whether or not other tests or specialty consultation are necessary.