Mammograms for Early Breast Cancer Detection

Annual mammograms are part of a proactive breast health plan. The goal is to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer.

Screening Mammogram

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray exam of the breasts to look for changes in breast tissue. Screening mammograms are performed annually on women who have no breast cancer symptoms. Screening mammograms can find cancer when it is too small to feel.

Some women avoid getting annual mammograms — for various reasons, including fears about discomfort to busy schedules and worries about cost. By answering these concerns, we hope women will better understand why an annual mammogram is a powerful step they can take for their health.

What to Expect

A mammogram is a radiology exam by a medical professional. The mammogram takes about 20 minutes. Most patients have two X-ray pictures of each breast taken, producing a four-view screening exam. All of our mammogram locations use 3D digital mammography, which produces more accurate imaging in most women.

Recommended Screening Ages

The American College of Radiology recommends that all women start annual screening mammography at age 40. Some women who have a higher risk of breast cancer should start screening for breast cancer before age 40. Reach out to your doctor to discuss your individual risk.

Getting the Results

Results are generally available within two to three business days. They will be in MyChart, and you will receive a letter with the results. We will verify which doctor or clinician should receive the results. If there are concerns about your screening mammogram results, your care team may refer you for a diagnostic mammogram and additional imaging.

Insurance Coverage

It is always a good idea to check with your insurance provider to see if insurance co-pays or deductibles apply. If you can’t afford a mammogram, Wisconsin Well Woman is an available resource.

There is a difference in how insurance providers cover screening and diagnostic mammograms. The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans to cover the costs of preventive services you qualify for. That includes screening mammograms performed within your insurance network. If you are at average risk of developing breast cancer, starting at age 40, insurance covers mammograms every one or two years. 

The Difference Between a Screening Mammogram and a Diagnostic Mammogram

A screening mammogram is a test you have routinely when you don’t have any symptoms of breast cancer.

If you have a mammogram because you have breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump, the mammogram is not a screening — it is a diagnostic test or diagnostic mammogram. Also, if a lump or suspicious area is found during a screening mammogram, a follow-up mammogram or other imaging test to confirm or rule out cancer is considered diagnostic. For diagnostic tests, your insurance company will require you to pay deductibles, copays or coinsurance — just the same as would be charged for any other tests your doctor uses to rule out or confirm a health problem.

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Mammograms

We know there are certain factors that increase your risk of developing breast cancer during your lifetime. It is important to determine your risk of developing breast cancer. Every woman who gets a screening or diagnostic mammogram within the Froedtert & MCW health network automatically receives a risk assessment as part of the mammogram.

• There is no added cost.
• The risk assessment does not add more than a minute or two to your mammogram appointment.

You will be asked a series of questions that will help determine your risk factors. You can answer the questions as part of your appointment PreCheck-In if you are a MyChart user. If you do not use MyChart, the mammogram technician will ask the questions at your mammogram appointment.

When you receive your mammogram results via MyChart or as a letter in the mail, the results of your risk assessment will be included, along with information about your breast tissue density.

If you are at high risk of developing breast cancer, you are eligible for breast MRI, in addition to your yearly mammogram, according to American Cancer Society guidelines. You may also be eligible for an appointment with our high-risk breast experts to discuss ways to lower risk or with a genetic counselor to see if genetic testing is right for you. A nurse coordinator will follow up with you to explain your results and help you make appointments.

Breast Density and Mammograms

Breast density refers to the ratio of the fat, connective and glandular tissues that make up your breasts. Whether or not your breasts are mostly made up of dense tissues can only be determined with breast imaging, and it is different for every woman. For more than half of women older than age 40, dense breast tissue will show up on a mammogram.

Dense breast tissues show up as white areas on a mammogram image — as do tumors and calcifications — making it harder to find breast cancer with a mammogram when a woman has dense breast tissue. Having dense breasts may mean you have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who have mostly fatty breast tissue, and you may need additional imaging to help distinguish dense breast tissues from abnormal breast tissue.

The FDA requires mammogram centers to tell women if they have dense breast tissue and how dense breast cancer tissue can affect their health and increase cancer risk.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Mammogram and Screening Results

When you talk with your doctor, ask about your breast cancer risk, breast density and any additional steps you should take after your breast cancer screening mammogram. Questions you might ask include:

• Can you explain the findings of my mammogram?
• Breast density: If I have dense breasts, do I have a higher risk of developing cancer?
• Should I have any other breast cancer tests?
• What are my personal risk factors for breast cancer?
• What can I do to lower my risk?