The Importance of Breast Cancer Screening
- TV host Jeannie Mai Jenkins, 44, recently gave followers an intimate look into her yearly mammogram experience, saying “I luv u too much to not remind u to get them titties checked too.”
- A mammogram is a special X-ray procedure that flattens the breast between two plastic plates. Some people may find it uncomfortable, but the test only takes a few moments.
- According to the American Cancer Society, women at average breast cancer risk can start annual mammogram screening between 40 and 44.
- Women between 45 and 54 should have yearly mammograms, and women who are 55 and older can opt for mammography every other year or choose to continue annual mammogram screening.
- Women who are at high breast cancer risk should begin at age 30 and undergo both a breast MRI and a mammogram every year, according to the American Cancer Society.
- Talk with your doctor to decide when screening should begin for you based on your risk level.
Jeannie Mai is a 44-year-old TV host and stylist best known for her work on the reality makeover show “How Do I Look?” and the daytime talk show “The Real.”
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
For a mammogram, you will stand in front of a specially designed X-ray machine and your breast will be placed on a plastic plate, according to the CDC.
Another plate will press down on your breast from above to flatten the breast while the X-ray is taken. This will be repeated to capture a side view of the same breast, as well as for views of the other breast.
Some people may feel pressure during the procedure and it may be uncomfortable. But the test only takes a few minutes. Discomfort may depend on your sensitivity, the size of your breasts and how much they need to be pressed down.
To help ease some anxiety women may feel about the procedure, she explained that the process did not hurt for her. She said she had seven friends between the ages of 30 and 38 get breast cancer and the disease runs in her family.
“‘I can't WAIT to get my mammogram done!!’ said no woman ever. 🥴 Inc me,” Jeannie Mai wrote in her caption. “Took me some time to learn that mammograms are a gift. You can either catch something early or count your blessings nothing was discovered.
“Either way, you're ahead of the game. So this post is a flex to say I luv u too much to not remind u to get them titties checked too.”
View this post on Instagram
When to Get a Mammogram Like Jeannie Mai Jenkins Did?
Breast cancer screening is usually done via mammogram an X-ray picture of the breast taken to look for lumps in the breast tissue and signs of cancer.
Experts agree this screening method can save lives, but deciding when to get one is less clear.
Breast Cancer Screening Information
“We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives,” Dr. Connie Lehman, chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, told SurvivorNet.
“Every doctor that I know, every organization that I know really encourages women to have a mammogram.”
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Below are the American Cancer Society’s screening recommendations for women who are at an average breast cancer risk:
- Women between 40 and 44 can start screening with a yearly mammogram.
- Women between 45 and 54 should have yearly mammograms.
- Women who are 55 and older can opt for mammography every other year or choose to continue annual mammogram screening.
- As long as a woman is healthy and expected to live for an additional ten years, screening should continue.
"For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn't have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as in a BRCA gene), and has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30," the American Cancer Society website reads.
I Have Dense Breasts. Do I Need a 3D Mammogram?
Women who are at high breast cancer risk should undergo both a breast MRI and a mammogram every year, according to the American Cancer Society. High-risk screening usually starts at 30. Women are considered high risk if they:
- Have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of at least 20 to 2%. Risk assessment tools mainly based on family history can help determine your lifetime risk.
- Have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation.
- Have a first-degree relative with one of the above gene mutations.
- Had radiation therapy to the chest between ages 10 and 30.
- Have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome.
- Have a first-degree relative with one of the above syndromes.
If you’re unsure of your breast cancer risk, your doctor can help you understand your unique circumstances.
RELATED: Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer A Warning About Thermography
"One of the most frustrating things that I see in my office, and my practice is when a patient… comes in with a huge, golf ball breast cancer that could have probably been diagnosed at an earlier age if they were receiving their annual screening mammogram," Dr. Senayet Agonafer, a diagnostic radiology specialist in New York, told SurvivorNet.
"You should absolutely be tested for your risk of breast cancer starting at the age of 30."
Breast Self-Exams
In addition to mammography tailored to your risk level, practicing regular breast self-exams is crucial, too.
Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams
"When we think about breast cancer prevention and awareness, the first step is that women need to feel comfortable with their breasts and that they know what their breasts feel like normally," SurvivorNet advisor Dr. Elizabeth Comen said.
"And for some women, that may mean going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam might feel like so that they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so that if they do feel anything abnormal whether it's a lump or discharge from the nipple that they know what to ask and what to look for."
Dr. Comen recommends performing a monthly self-exam, and the Mayo Clinic says the week after your period ends is typically the best time to do them.
When performing a breast self-exam, SurvivorNet recommends you look for changes like:
- A new lump in the breast
- New swelling in the breast
- Changes to the nipple (such as puckering)
- Flaking or redness in the breast or nipple
- Discharge (including blood) coming from the nipple
- Pain in the breast
Overall, be proactive about your breast cancer risk. Don’t be afraid to talk to doctors when you notice something unusual, and make sure you’ve nailed down a regular mammography screening schedule based on your individual risk level.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.