Mammography

Mammography

Mammography is the core test in breast cancer detection and diagnosis.  

But mammograms can be diagnostic or screening.

In general diagnostic mammograms take longer to perform as they use more x-rays than screening mammograms in order to obtain some views of the breast from different angles. The radiologist may need to magnify a suspicious area.

Normally your doctor refers you for a mammogram: thiswill be because either the doctor or the patient has detected something abnormal (a lump, some nipple discharge, or a retracted nipple…) or because the mammogram is a scheduled routine test (cf. breast cancer detection)

Sometimes you may also receive an invitation to participate in a screening campaign that begins (in France) after the age of 50.

In the absence of any breast cancer risk factors, France recommends that women receive a mammogram every 2 years between the age of 50 and 74. For those women who have previously experienced cancer, or if  their family has a history of cancer,  or if there is an identified or suspected genetic mutation (especially BRCA 1 & 2) then it is advisable to have a mammogram every year, and often from the age of 40. Please see: patients with a genetic cancer risk and an MRI scan.

How does this work?

Mammography categories

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