Screening is for people without symptoms
Most physicians agree that mammography remains the best screening tool available for early detection of breast cancer. Screening should generally begin at age 40 and continue annually, even with no risk factors and no symptoms — and family history moves that timeline earlier.
A common guideline: if a close relative was diagnosed at 45, screening starts around 35 — roughly a decade before the age at which she was diagnosed. Screening recommendations do vary between organizations and by individual risk, so the interval that is right for you is a conversation with your provider.
Source: CDC. Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop breast cancer, and risk factors do not all carry equal weight.
Risk factors you can change
Some contributors to breast cancer risk are within your control, and your provider can help you address them.
Weight
Being overweight or obese is an established modifiable risk factor. Our medical weight loss program can help if this is where you want to start.
Physical Activity
Inactivity raises risk. Regular movement is among the most reliably beneficial changes available.
Hormone Use
Taking hormones affects risk. If you are on hormone therapy, this is worth discussing with the physician managing it.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is a recognized modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.
Smoking
Smoking contributes to risk across many cancers, and cessation support is available through your primary care provider.
Prescription Use
Overuse of narcotics and prescription medication is listed among modifiable risk factors — a medication review is part of routine care here.
Mammogram Questions
QWhen should I start getting mammograms?
General guidance is annual screening beginning at age 40, even without risk factors or symptoms. With a close relative diagnosed young, screening usually starts about ten years before their age at diagnosis — if your mother was diagnosed at 45, that means starting around 35. Guidelines differ between organizations, so confirm the right interval with your provider.
QHow often do I need one?
Annually for most women once screening begins, and particularly between ages 45 and 54. Your provider may recommend a different interval based on your personal risk profile and breast density.
QDoes a mammogram hurt?
It can be uncomfortable and briefly awkward — compression is what produces a usable image. The discomfort lasts seconds, and it is the trade for detecting cancer years before you could feel it.
QWhat if something is found?
A finding on a screening mammogram frequently turns out to be nothing, and additional imaging clarifies most cases. If further evaluation is needed, Victory Medical coordinates the next steps and your provider walks you through what the findings mean and what happens next.
QDo I need a referral?
You can schedule a screening mammogram directly through our booking link. If you are unsure whether screening is appropriate for you yet, start with your primary care provider.
Book it while you are thinking about it
Screening mammograms can be booked directly online. It takes a few minutes now and buys the kind of certainty that is hard to get any other way.