Breast screening and having a mammogram

A mammogram is an X-ray of your breasts that checks for signs of cancer. Breast screening mammograms aim to detect breast cancer early, before you or your doctor notices any signs of a problem.

Your doctor may also refer you for a mammogram and other tests if you have possible signs of breast cancer. This is sometimes called a diagnostic mammogram..

About breast screening

If you’re under 40 but have a higher-than-normal risk of developing you may be offered a mammogram once a year. This might be if you’ve had genetic tests that show you’re carrying a gene associated with breast cancer, or if breast or  runs in your family. Speak to your Doctor if you’re worried about your risk of breast cancer – they may refer you to specialist genetic services or a breast clinic for further assessment.

Deciding on breast screening:

We’ve listed some points to consider below.

If you have any questions about going for a mammogram, you can also ask your Doctor for advice 

Benefits of breast screening

Breast screening has several benefits.

• It saves lives. It’s estimated that for every 200 people screened, one life is saved. This is because breast cancer is spotted and treated earlier than it would have been.
• Early breast cancer is usually easier to treat and may need less aggressive treatment. For example, you may be able to have surgery that keeps your breast if your cancer is spotted early.
• If breast screening doesn’t find anything wrong with your breasts, this can be reassuring.

Risks of breast screening

There are certain risks of breast screening that it’s important to be aware of.

• Screening can pick up on breast cancers and pre-cancerous changes that would never have caused you any harm (overdiagnosis). You may then end up having more treatment than you really would have needed (overtreatment). This happens to about three in every 200 people.
• The test isn’t perfect. You may have a ‘false positive’ result, where you’re called back for more tests, but then found not to have breast cancer. This can be stressful and upsetting, as well as having unnecessary investigations.
• It’s also possible to have a ‘false negative’ result, which means your cancer is missed by the mammogram or doesn’t show up.
• You may find having the mammogram uncomfortable. For more information on this, see our FAQ below: Is having a mammogram painful?
• You’ll be exposed to a small amount of radiation during the mammogram which, over your lifetime, very slightly increases your risk of breast cancer.

Preparing for a mammogram

If you’re having a screening mammogram, you’ll have it at a special breast screening unit. This may be at a hospital, clinic, community centre or in a mobile unit. Diagnostic mammograms (when you’ve been referred by your doctor because you have , are usually done at a specialist breast clinic with other tests. Your mammogram will be carried out by a female healthcare professional called a mammographer.

You don’t need to do anything in particular to prepare before your mammogram, and you can eat and drink as usual before your appointment. Bear in mind that you’ll need to undress to the waist for your mammogram, so you might want to wear something that’s easy to change out of. You’ll also be asked not to use talcum powder or a spray deodorant on the day because these can affect the mammogram.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or have breast implants, let the breast screening unit know before your appointment. For more information, see our FAQ: Do breast implants affect screening?

What happens during a mammogram?

When you arrive at your appointment, your mammographer will check your details, explain what will happen and answer any questions you may have. They’ll ask you to confirm if you’re happy to go ahead. Then you’ll be asked to take off any clothes you’re wearing above your waist. This includes your bra if you wear one. You may be given a hospital gown to wear.

You’ll be asked to stand next to the mammogram machine, and your mammographer will help you to position one of your breasts onto the X-ray plate. They’ll then lower a second X-ray plate onto your breast, pressing it for a few moments. This helps to keep your breast still, and the images clear. The mammogram takes two [MH2] of your breasts, one from above and one from the side. Your breasts are X-rayed one at a time.

Your breasts are only pressed for a few seconds, but you may find this uncomfortable. For more information, see our FAQ: Is having a mammogram painful? Once the mammogram is over, you can get dressed and go home straight away.

Specialist doctors called radiologists will look at the X-ray images of your breasts, to check for signs of cancer

Getting the results of your mammogram

Breast screening mammograms

Your mammographer will tell you when you’re likely to get your results. It’s usually within two weeks. Most people will have a normal result. If your routine mammogram picks up anything abnormal, you’ll be asked to go to a breast assessment clinic for more tests. Around four in every 100 people who have a screening mammogram are called back for more tests. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer – most women called back for more tests after a screening mammogram don’t have cancer.

Diagnostic mammograms

You may have a diagnostic mammogram done at a ‘one-stop clinic’, where you have other tests on the same day. These may include an  and a . A biopsy means taking a sample of cells from the area of concern to test whether it’s cancerous or non-cancerous (benign).

You may receive your results for a diagnostic mammogram on the same day. But you may have to wait a week or so to receive all your test results. It’s natural to be anxious while waiting for your results. You might find it helps to talk to those close to you about how you’re feeling.  and  have online forums where you can also talk to others who have been through a similar experience.

Breast awareness

Even if you’re having regular mammogram screening, it’s still important to be ‘. This means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, so you’re more likely to notice any changes.

Check your breasts regularly. Look for any change in size or shape, any skin changes such as puckering or dimpling, and any changes in the way your breasts feel. Check the whole of your breast area, including your upper chest, up to the collarbone, and your armpits. You should check your nipples too, looking for any discharge, redness, rash or changes in how they look.

Most changes in your breasts or nipples won’t be signs of cancer. But contact your Doctor as soon as you can if you notice anything unusual for you, even if a recent mammogram didn’t find anything.