Breast Cancer: Early Detection

You have a better chance of surviving breast cancer if your doctor finds and treats it early, while it’s small and hasn’t spread. The best way to detect breast cancer early is to be screened regularly. Screening means being checked before you have any symptoms. Screening isn't possible for many kinds of cancer, but it is with breast cancer. Screening doesn't guarantee that you won't get cancer or die from it, especially if it's found after it has spread. But regular screening may help find the cancer earlier.

How is screening for breast cancer done?

Screening for breast cancer in women of average risk can include a combination of these:

• Breast self awareness. In the past, a breast self-exam was recommended. The exam was a precise method of examining your breasts, about once a month. Most medical organizations now advise breast self-awareness instead. This means having a sense of what is normal for your breasts so that you can notice even small changes and report them to a healthcare provider right away.

• Clinical breast exam (CBE). The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises CBEs every 1 to 3 years for all women in their 20s and 30s. ACOG advises CBEs every year for women 40 and older. Other medical organizations disagree that there is enough evidence to assess the value of CBEs for women age 40 and older. Women should talk with their doctor about their risk factors and make a decision about whether to have a CBE.

• Mammography. A mammogram is a kind of X-ray used to help find breast tumors before symptoms of cancer appear. During the test, your breast is placed between 2 metal or plastic plates that flatten and spread the tissue. Low levels of radiation are used to take a picture of the inside of your breast. Some facilities have digital mammography. This displays results on a computer instead of on film. The test can be uncomfortable, but it only lasts a few moments. 

• Breast MRI. An MRI uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed pictures of the inside of the breast. Before the MRI, you may be injected with a contrast dye. This helps to better outline the breast tissue and possible tumors.

These screening methods can improve your chances of catching cancer early. Women at high risk for breast cancer may be advised to start breast cancer screening at a younger age, and have an MRI in addition to a mammogram. For some women with dense breast tissue, ultrasound may be done in addition to a mammogram. And for some women at high risk for breast cancer, a screening MRI may be advised along with mammograms.

More about mammograms

How often is a mammogram recommended? Women who are 40 years of age and older should have a mammogram every year. Starting at an earlier age may be right for you. Talk to your doctor about your personal risk factors and testing needs. If you feel or see something concerning with your breasts before your yearly screening mammogram, call your doctor even if you just had a mammogram.

A mammogram detects tumors and calcium deposits in the breast. Most calcium deposits are not cancer. But a cluster of very tiny specks of calcium (microcalcifications) can be an early sign of breast cancer. If your mammogram shows anything abnormal, you may need more tests.

Although a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer early, it may not always detect cancer. And in some cases, it may find an abnormality that turns out not to be cancer. This is called a false positive. Some people worry about the radiation. But the radiation levels are about the same as those you'd be exposed to during a flight from New York to California.