Library of Frequently Asked Questions
When to get a mammogram
A mammography is a procedure for detecting breast cancer by means of X- rays. The American Cancer Society has established guidelines for women to follow concerning mammography (ma-mo-gru-fee).
At age thirty-five to thirty-nine, women should have a baseline mammogram (mam-o-gram) to establish what is normal, which will be used for comparison in later years. Between the ages of forty and forty-nine, women should have a mammogram every one to two years, depending on their physician’s recommendations. Women aged fifty and over should have a mammogram annually.
Quality mammograms are important because they show irregularities in the breast long before they can be felt by you or your doctor. Tiny micro-calcifications (my-kro-kal-si-fuh-kay-shuns) can be seen even before they have time to form into a lump. How the mammogram is performed and how well the film is read may affect the results, so ask questions about certification and standards of the center you use.
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