age for first mammogram
A radiology technologist is responsible for performing mammography. Once the x-ray pictures are taken, they are developed and examined by a radiologist (a doctor who specializes in the interpretation of x-rays and other imaging studies). In most mammography centers, these radiologists have also had extra training dedicated to interpreting mammograms. If you or your mother or sister have been diagnosed with the breast cancer gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2) you should begin having annual mammograms at age 25, and annual breast MRI sometimes even younger than 25. Your breast doctor should advise you on this. You’ve reached your 40th birthday, and you know what that means: it’s time for your first mammogram. Or you’ve discovered a lump in your breast; you’re just 37 years old, but the doctor says you’d best have a mammogram. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer (mother or sister), start having your mammogram 10 years younger than the age that relative was diagnosed, OR at age 40, whichever is younger. For example, if your sister had breast cancer when she was 44, you should start having your mammogram at age 34. General Guidelines. For most women, age 40 should be when you start having yearly mammograms in order to minimize your likelihood of developing advanced breast cancer (“ Government Mammography Task Force vs. You ”). Some doctors send their patients for a baseline mammogram at age 35, and I wouldn’t argue with that. Generally, two x-rays are obtained of each breast. More views may be obtained if the breasts are large, the woman has had a breast augmentation, or there is an area on the initial mammography views that needs to be further examined. If your mother had breast cancer at 60, you would start having your annual mammogram at age 40. If you have a strong family history or other factors that put you at high risk for breast cancer, you should also be having a breast MRI every year once you start having mammograms. Talk to your doctor about this. Or you’re just uneasy at this new procedure in your health-care regimen. Whatever your reluctance to have that first mammogram, I’m here to tell you: it’s not that bad. Really. I recently went for what must have been close to my 20th mammogram. No, I’m not THAT old! But since I started having mammograms at age 40 and had breast cancer at age 47, I’ve had more than the usual number of mammograms. The actual X-ray takes only a few seconds, but your breast will be compressed maybe, oh, 15 to 20 seconds or so. I've never felt much pain from this; some women do. If you're pre-menopausal, it helps to schedule your mammogram for a time period during your cycle when you know your breasts won't be tender. A brief medical history and a history of specific problems related to the breast, such as pain or a palpable lump (one that is felt), is obtained prior to the mammogram. A small x-ray marker may be taped on the breast overlying the palpable lump.
40 years.