A mammography screening exam, or mammogram, is an X-ray image of the breast. It is a routine screening exam for breast cancer.

Mammography is a safe and effective tool for detecting breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer is vital to the process of curing the disease. There are expected to be about 180,000 new cases of breast cancer and about 40,000 deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2008. Most doctors feel that early detection of breast cancer can be life-saving.

Each breast is lifted onto a platform and a flat plate is used to apply a firm amount of pressure between the plate and platform. The X-ray image is then taken.

It is recommended that you not wear any deodorant or powder under your arms, as this could lead to inaccurate X-ray images. If you have previous mammograms from a different facility, the doctor may request these prior exams so it is a good idea to bring them along. This test will be less uncomfortable if done just after your period when breasts are least tender.

• Female
• Age > 40 and especially age > 50
• Personal history of breast cancer
• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Gene mutations including BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome or first degree relatives with it
• Cowden and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndromes or first degree relatives with them
• Family history of male breast cancer
• Prior abnormal breast biopsy
• Ethnicity (highest incidence in Caucasians, highest death rate African-American; lower rates in Hispanic, Native Americans, and Asians.
• Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
• Prior chest radiation therapy
• Menarche < 12
• Menopause > 55
• DES intake
• First child after age 30 or no children
• > 1 alcoholic beverage per day
• Obesity especially after menopause
• Hormone therapy (some controversy); strongest association in people on recent or current combined estrogen/progesterone therapy
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High fat diet (maybe)
• Many others remain controversial: anti-perspirants, pollution, night-shift work, underwire bras, induced abortion, breast implants, smoking, secondhand smoke