Conquering Cancer with Mammograms

Make Time for Mammograms

Mammography is the most important breast cancer screening tool for women of average risk. It creates images of breast tissue with a safe amount of radiation that can reveal cancers long before a patient or doctor can feel them, which could save your life. 

Make time for a mammogram today.

Who: All women should get a mammogram starting at age 40, repeating yearly, as recommended by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Some women may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer, such as women with a family history of the disease. These women might need to begin screening at an earlier age and be screened with additional imaging techniques. Most insurance companies cover the cost of mammograms for women over the age of 40.

What: The primary purpose of mammography screening is to detect and diagnose breast cancer as early as possible, before it has had a chance to spread, thereby improving treatment options and effectiveness.

Why: Breast cancer affects one in eight women in their lifetime and is the second-leading cause of death among women in the U.S. Mammography is the only screening tool proven to reduce the rate of death from breast cancer (by approximately 15-32 percent among women who are screened).    

Did You Know?

UTSW participated in a multicenter trial that led to FDA approval of breast tomosynthesis, a 3D mammogram. This type of mammogram has the ability to offer exceptional detail, which increases cancer detection rates while decreasing false-positive rates. Tomosynthesis is also useful for a diagnostic mammography in women with an abnormal screening mammogram, breast lump, and/or nipple discharge. Many insurance companies are now covering 3D mammograms. Learn more about 3D mammograms.