No Family History and no Dense Breasts

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

Breast Cancer Screening in British Columbia

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

Breast Cancer Screening in British Columbia

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

Breast Cancer Screening in British Columbia

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

25-39 years of age

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

40-49 years of age

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

Breast Cancer Screening in British Columbia

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

Breast Cancer Screening in British Columbia

Knowledge is power when it comes to your breast health.

Screening for breast cancer is your choice and should be based on your own personal values. It is recommended that you have a discussion with your primary care provider about: your genetic risk,  lifestyle, and personal health history. 75% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of breast cancer and no risk factors other than being women. A decision about your breast health includes a look at the benefits and limitations of mammograms.

Benefits
Lives Saved: Research shows that women in their 40s who have mammograms are 44% less likely to die of breast cancer than women who do not (footnote PAN).
Lives Saved: Research shows that women in their 40s who have mammograms are 44% less likely to die of breast cancer than women who do not (footnote PAN).
Lives Saved: Research shows that women in their 40s who have mammograms are 44% less likely to die of breast cancer than women who do not (footnote PAN).
Lives Saved: Research shows that women in their 40s who have mammograms are 44% less likely to die of breast cancer than women who do not (footnote PAN).
Limitations
Missed breast cancer: Mammograms are not perfect. Some cancers cannot be detected on a mammogram due to the location of the cancer or the density of the breast tissue (foot BC Cancer) Mammograms are less effective in younger women because they tend to have denser breast tissue (foot BC cancer).
Mammograms may lead to additional testing: About 9 percent of women will require additional tests to look more closely at a specific area of the breast. This does not mean that cancer is present. Over 95% of the women recall for additional testing do not have cancer.(footnote bc c acer) This may cause short-term anxiety for many women. Studies show that the anxiety does not harm women in the long term.
Low doses of radiation: Mammograms use low doses of radiation. The benefits of regular mammograms outweigh the risks posed by the small amount of radiation you are exposed to.
Over Detection: A woman may end up getting treatment for a cancer that never would have become life threatening even it was untreated.