Get Tested for Breast Cancer 
The Basics
Overview
Breast cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women in the United States will get breast cancer during her lifetime.
The good news is that mammograms can help find breast cancer early — before it spreads to other parts of the body. Most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.
How often should I get mammograms?
- If you’re age 40 to 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them
- If you’re age 50 to 74, get mammograms every 2 years
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. Mammograms use a very low level of x-rays, which are a type of radiation. The risk of harm from this radiation is very low.
Mammograms can be used to screen (test) for breast cancer in women with no signs or symptoms. They can also help doctors figure out if cancer is causing a particular symptom — like a lump or another change in the breast.
When you get a mammogram, a technician will place your breast on a platform and a plastic plate will press it flat to get a clear picture. This part of a mammogram can be uncomfortable, but it usually only lasts 15 to 20 seconds.
It takes about 20 minutes total to get mammograms. Learn more about mammograms
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Breast Cancer
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in breast tissue. Like all cancers, breast cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
Talk with your doctor or nurse if you notice any of these changes:
- A lump or an area that feels very firm in the breast or armpit
- A change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast
- Fluid (called discharge) coming out of a nipple
- Skin on the breast that is itchy, red, flaky, or dimpled
Learn more about breast cancer.
What if the doctor finds something in my breast?
Mammograms let the doctor or nurse look for lumps or other changes inside your breasts that you can’t feel from the outside. If your doctor finds a lump or another change in your breast tissue, you may need other tests to find out if it’s cancer or not.
The doctor or nurse may take a small bit of tissue from the breast for testing. This procedure is called a biopsy.
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