Importance of Mammograms
- Sofia Vergara, 48, survived throid cancer in her 20s; now, she’s screening for breast cancer and urging others to get their mammograms, too.
- Mammograms are screening tests used to detect breast cancer; women should start getting mammograms in their 30s if they are high-risk.
- According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 1 in 8 women (13%) will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.
View this post on Instagram
Vergara’s Thyroid Cancer
At 28, Vergara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. As a cancer survivor, she knows the high importance of screenings. She discovered her disease when she took her son to the doctor; while there, the doctor wanted to check Sofia, too and he found a lump on her neck.
Related: 7 Common Signs of Thyroid Cancer & How to Spot Them
She had no symptoms besides the lump, and Vergara said, “I was skeptical about having my thyroid gland removed. Plus, the surgery is dangerous. If the doctor makes a mistake, you can lose your speech, or the mobility in your face. But I did it."
What is a Mammogram
A mammogram is a screening test used to detect breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 1 in 8 women (13%) will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. And 1 in 39 women (3%) will die from breast cancer.
Related: Millions of Women With Dense Breasts A New Congressional Law What You Need to Know
Dr. Senayet Agonafer, a radiologist at Montefiore Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet that mammograms remain the best screening test for detecting breast cancer. “I notice a lot of women are opting out of mammograms recently and doing thermography,” says Dr. Agonafer. “Thermography is a form of infrared radiation emission. Different tissues have different metabolic activity, and thermography is a way to measure that.”
While thermography can be an effective tool, she says, “I highly encourage that you continue mammography because most of the data prove that thermography is a lot less sensitive than mammography. The sensitivity for thermography in detection of breast cancer is around 40%. And for mammography, the sensitivity is around 85%.”
Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer A Warning About Thermography
When to Get a Mammogram
Vergara is being admirably proactive getting her mammogram, and she’s the prime age in her 40s to be screened for breast cancer. When to get a mammogram may depend on your family history, and your risk factor. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family, you should begin screening for the disease earlier than is typical (age 40).
If you fall into a high-risk category due to other, non-family-related factors, such as having dense breasts, having previous treatment using radiation therapy, or, experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12), you should also start screening early.
Related: The Top Breast Cancer Risk Factors and What You Can Do About It
Dr. Connie Lehman, the Chief of Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, tells SurvivorNet, “There is a wide consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. But there is some disagreement among doctors as to whether mammograms are beneficial for women between the ages of 40 and 45. This is an option you should, of course, discuss with your own doctor. If you're older than 55, you can choose to continue your annual mammograms or opt to have one every two years.”
When screening for breast cancer or planning to screen for breast cancer it’s beneficial to know your family history, evaluate your risk factors, and be diligent about getting regular screenings, because it could save your life. We’re thankful that Vergara is a great role model for cancer screening.
Related: When You're Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.