Should i get mammogram

Learn more. You have had top surgery involving removal of most, but not all, breast tissue:. You have chest breast tissue as a result of gender-affirming hormone therapy estrogen use :. You can recieve a mammogram if you have breast implants.

The difference is that you cannot participate in the BC Cancer Breast Screening program but instead will have a diagnostic mammogram , which requires a referral. A diagnostic mammogram allows for the extra time and techniques needed to ensure that the entire breast tissue is visible.

Please speak to your health care provider for more information. A reminder is sent in the mail when it's time to return. When you receive your reminder, be sure to book your next appointment. Also, make sure we have the most up-to-date address information for you. To update your contact information, call us at Thermography isn't recommended for a population-based screening program such as BC Cancer Breast Screening as there is no evidence to support the use of thermography as a screening tool for breast cancer.

Thermal imaging equipment is not approved for breast screening by Health Canada. For more information, click here. Thermography has a high false-positive rate which could lead to unnecessary tests. It can also miss abnormalities that can be detected through a screening mammogram. For these reasons, BC Cancer recommends against thermography as a replacement for screening mammography — a position shared by many prominent health organizations across North America. A recent statement on thermography from the U.

All Rights Reserved. What is a Mammogram? Who Should Get a Mammogram? What is Cervical Screening? Who Should Get Screened? The ACS says BSEs are an option for women 20 and older as a means of familiarizing themselves with their breasts so they can notice changes more easily.

Talking with your doctor about the benefits and limitations can help you decide if you should start performing BSEs. Women who are at an increased risk family history, genetic tendency, past breast cancer should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests breast ultrasound, MRI , or having more frequent exams.

National Cancer Institute Guideline for Screening Mammography: Women in their 40s and older should have a screening mammogram on a regular basis, every one to two years. When caught early, localized cancers can be removed without resorting to breast removal mastectomy. Normal breast tissue can hide a breast cancer so that it doesn't show up on the mammogram.

This is called a false negative. And mammography can identify an abnormality that looks like a cancer, but turns out to be normal. This "false alarm" is called a false positive. Besides worrying about being diagnosed with breast cancer, a false positive means more tests and follow-up visits, which can be stressful. To make up for these limitations, more than mammography is often needed. Women also need to practice breast self-examination, get regular breast examinations by an experienced health care professional, and, in some cases, also get another form of breast imaging, such as breast MRI or ultrasound.

Some women wonder about the risks of radiation exposure due to mammography.