Mammograms and Breast Health

Regular primary care checkups, monthly breast self-exams, annual clinical breast exams, and mammograms are KEY essentials for breast health. See how Virtua helps you make your breast health a priority.

Why Should I Do Monthly Self-Exams?

Breast self-exams familiarize you with the normal texture of your breast tissue—whether it’s smooth, bubbly, or bumpy like a bag of frozen peas—it’s what’s normal for YOU. Performing monthly self-exams helps you check for unusual lumps or for changes in the skin or nipple that should be evaluated by your health care provider.

What are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. And about one woman in eight will be diagnosed with the disease.

The following factors increase your risk of developing breast cancer:

• Age
• Family history of breast cancer
• Known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• Dense breast tissue
• Drinking alcohol
• Obesity
• Older age at first child's birth or never given birth
• Starting menstruation at an early age
• Using hormones such as estrogen and progesterone

These factors put you at higher risk for breast cancer:

• First-degree relative (mother, father, brother, sister, or child) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• Having a genetic disease such as Li-Fraumeni or Cowden syndrome or having a first-degree relative with one of these diseases
• Known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• Lifetime risk of breast cancer greater than 20%, mainly based on family history on both your mother's and father's side
• Personal history of breast cancer
• Radiation therapy to the chest between ages 10 to 30 

When Should I Have a Breast Cancer Screening?

Based on the above risks, the American Society of Breast Surgeons offers the following breast cancer screening recommendations.

For women at average risk:

• Women who don't have dense breasts: annual mammogram starting at age 40
• Women with increased breast density: annual mammogram starting at age 40 and recommended surveillance with breast ultrasound or MRI

For women with higher-than-average risk:

• Women with a genetic-based risk or radiation therapy to the chest between ages 10 to 30: Annual breast MRI starting at age 25 and annual mammogram starting at age 30
• Women with a lifetime risk of breast cancer greater than 20% or a strong family history of breast cancer: Annual mammogram and recommended surveillance with breast MRI starting at age 35
• Women with a history of breast cancer: annual mammogram and surveillance with breast MRI as advised by your doctor

Screening recommendations can be complex, so it's best to talk with your doctor about your medical history to learn when and how you should be screened for breast cancer.

What Happens When I Get a Mammogram?

A mammogram takes about 20 minutes. While it briefly compresses the breast, the technician minimizes your discomfort. You’re exposed to a small amount of radiation—typically less than a standard chest X-ray.

A mammogram looks for abnormal growths or changes in breast tissue and ducts. Your first mammogram is a baseline that’s used for comparison to your future mammograms. Since it’s a screening tool, it can be used to identify suspicious areas, but not to diagnose breast cancer.

If a suspicious spot is found, your health care provider may order additional tests, such as breast ultrasound or breast MRI. However, a breast biopsy is the only definitive way to make a diagnosis.

Breast Health Services at Virtua

Mammograms are invaluable—even lifesaving—as they can detect a suspicious lump long before it can be felt during a physical exam. This greatly improves your treatment options.

Breast cancer prevention and diagnosis at Virtua

Virtua provides the latest preventive, diagnostic, and treatment options to maintain breast health and treat benign breast disease or breast cancer, including:

• Digital and 3D mammograms read by board-certified and fellowship-trained radiologists, as well as breast ultrasound and MRI
• Free cancer screening program for those who are under- or uninsured
• Cancer risk assessment and genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancers
• Treatment services including traditional and minimally invasive surgeries for non-cancerous breast lumps or breast cancer

Discovery of a suspicious breast lump or area requires further testing for an accurate diagnosis.

We understand how stressful it is to learn that you have a suspicious mammogram. That's why the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program’s oncology nurse navigation team quickly connects you with specialists for next steps and guides you through your care.