Screening Mammograms and Your Family History

Breast cancer continues to affect American women at an alarming rate, especially for women who have a family history of breast cancer. 

About one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, but a woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (like a mother, sister, or daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

These are very concerning numbers, but thankfully, women have a powerful tool on their side: screening mammograms.

Understanding Screening Mammograms for High-Risk Women

The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older, so as a woman ages, she needs to have annual screening mammograms. 

The more you understand about screening mammograms, the more you’ll come to understand they can help save your life.

What Is A Screening Mammogram? How Is It Different From A Diagnostic Mammogram?

A screening mammogram is a preventative measure used primarily to detect breast health anomalies before any symptoms are present. 

It involves capturing multiple images of the breast tissue to identify any unusual areas that may require further investigation. 

A screening mammogram is performed when there is a known concern, such as a lump, or another symptom.

What are the guidelines for a screening mammogram? Why is it important to get a screening mammogram as I age?

Multiple guidelines suggest that women should start annual screening mammograms at the age of 40. 

Those at higher risk may need to begin earlier, and have additional imaging studies, just to be safe. High-risk factors may include: 

• a significant family history of breast cancer, 
• genetic factors, 
• and prior exposure to radiation.

Annual screenings are vital, as the risk of breast health issues increases with age, and early detection can significantly improve the effectiveness of your care.

How does a screening mammogram provide detailed images of breast tissue?

Screening mammograms use advanced imaging technology to produce detailed pictures of the breast tissue. 

This technology is specifically designed to highlight areas of varying density and texture, which helps in identifying spots that differ from the surrounding tissue, and might not be felt during a physical exam. 

Your healthcare team, including your provider and our radiologist, will analyze your mammogram results for any signs of irregularities. 

You can see why a screening mammogram’s level of detail can play a big part in early detection of diseases like cancer.

Why might a healthcare provider recommend additional scans, beyond a screening mammogram, for high-risk women?

For women who are at high risk, a healthcare provider might recommend additional scans to get a more comprehensive view of the breast tissue. 

This could be due to the presence of denser breast tissue, which can make it harder to interpret screening mammogram results, or because of a previously detected anomaly that requires closer monitoring. 

Additional scans may include breast ultrasound or breast MRI, which provide different types of images, and can offer more information than mammograms alone. 

A breast ultrasound is often used to further evaluate an area of concern found on a mammogram, or to examine dense breast tissue, where mammograms may be less effective. 

Breast MRI is particularly useful for screening individuals who are at high risk for breast cancer, or as a follow-up to ambiguous mammogram results, as MRI results can give your provider a more detailed look at your breast tissue. 

While screening mammograms are the primary method for routine breast cancer detection, breast ultrasounds and breast MRIs help by providing additional information when your provider needs more clarity.

Your family history and breast cancer risk

It is important, especially for women, to research your family history to discover your risk factors for developing breast cancer. 

It may not be an easy subject to discuss, but it can help you live a longer, healthier life.

Let’s take a closer look at having a history of cancer in your family.

How does my family’s health history affect my risk of developing breast cancer?

A woman’s family history directly affects her risk of developing breast cancer. That’s why it is so important to know your family’s history with cancer.

As we mentioned, a woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

What should I tell my healthcare provider about my family’s risk for cancer?

Your family’s health history is very important information for your provider, especially if there has been breast cancer or any other type of cancer in your family’s history. 

Knowing your family’s health history is your healthcare provider’s best way to begin properly assessing your risk for breast cancer, and to recommend the most appropriate care.

How can a screening mammogram support early detection and monitoring for women with a family history of cancer?

With breast cancer or any other type of cancer, the sooner your provider can find it, the better. 

Some studies have shown that screening mammograms find more breast cancers, and sooner. Also, screening mammograms help to better detect cancer in women with dense breasts. 

Overall, screening mammograms are effective in the early detection of breast cancer and in the process of follow-up monitoring.

Preparing for your first screening mammogram

A screening mammogram sounds complicated, but really, it’s a very common scan.

The more you know about screening mammograms, the better prepared you’ll be before you have one, and the less stressed you will feel. 

We want to share some helpful tips with you.

How should I dress for a screening mammogram?

At the imaging facility, you’ll be given a gown and asked to remove any necklaces, jewelry, and clothing from the waist up. 

Choose a comfortable, two-piece outfit to wear to your appointment.

Is it OK to wear products like deodorant, perfume, powders, or lotion?

Before your screening mammogram, avoid using deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, lotions, creams, or perfumes under your arms or on your breasts. 

That’s because metallic particles in powders and deodorants can interfere with your mammogram imaging.

What should I do to get ready for my screening mammogram?

Before your screening mammogram, it’s always a good idea to check your insurance with the imaging provider to see if everything is in order. 

Also, if possible, schedule the mammogram for a time when your breasts are least likely to be tender or swollen. 

If you have prior screening mammogram images, remember to bring them with you to the appointment.

What can I expect during my screening mammogram? How long will it take?

You will stand at the mammogram machine, your breast will be compressed between two metal paddles, and an X-ray sensor will sweep across your breast in a soft arc. 

Much like a regular mammogram, you may feel some discomfort as your breast is compressed, but it won’t last long.

The imaging will take about 10-15 seconds for each breast, and you will need to hold your breath while the scan takes place, to minimize the movement and motion blur. 

The entire process should take about 15 minutes.

After your screening mammogram

Following a screening mammogram, you can probably go about your regular routine. It’s important to remember to try and relax, and not to stress about the results. 

Your results will be analyzed and sent to your healthcare provider within 24 hours, and they will call you with those results within 3-4 days, or sooner. 

Only 10% of mammograms are called back for further testing, and of this 10% less than 1% will be diagnosed with cancer.

Who will interpret the results of my screening mammogram?

The results of your screening mammogram will be interpreted by a board-certified radiologist, who is trained and specializes in breast imaging.

What do I need to know to understand my screening mammogram results?

The first thing to know about understanding your results is to ask the healthcare provider to communicate those results in a straightforward way you can fully understand. 

Healthcare providers use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, or BI-RADS, to report what they find on your screening mammogram. 

This system provides a standard way for all radiologists and healthcare providers to categorize their findings and create a plan for follow-up care. 

After you have a screening mammogram, you should receive a written report of your results. A separate version of the report will be sent to the healthcare provider who ordered your mammogram.

If my provider finds anything suspicious, what are my potential next steps?

If your healthcare provider finds something suspicious in the results from your screening mammogram, there are several possible next steps, such as additional imaging.

That could require getting a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound, or an MRI. 

Remember that most abnormal findings on a screening mammogram are not breast cancer, and for most women, follow-up imaging will show normal breast tissue.

How to schedule an appointment with us

Our goal is to offer you and your healthcare provider the most informative results possible, and we make it easy for you to get an appointment. 

With numerous locations across South Jersey, you’ll find us conveniently located near major highways and key bridges in the region. 

We’ll ensure the entire scheduling process is as effortless as possible for you. Above all, we are here to help you.

Reach out to us at any of the following locations to book an appointment:

• Cherry Hill Office – Cherry Hill, NJ
• Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ
• Marlton (Greentree) Office – Marlton, NJ
• Moorestown Office – Moorestown, NJ
• Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ
• West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
• Willingboro Office – Willingboro, NJ
• Women’s Center at Cross Keys – Sewell, NJ
• Women’s Center at Medford – Medford, NJ
• Women’s Center at Mount Laurel – Mount Laurel, NJ
• Women’s Center at Voorhees – Voorhees Township, NJ

Learn more about the board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who read, analyze and interpret the findings here at SJRA.