For our sixth episode of the Real Women’s Health Podcast, we bust the most common myths about #mammograms. Do they cause cancer? What should I do if I have dense breasts? What happens if I need a breast biopsy? Is there any benefit to catching cancer early?
I recommend an annual mammogram starting at age 40, and this is in alignment with both the American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Some women may need an additional MRI each year- these are women with a greater than 20% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, or a BRCA (or similar) mutation. Some women also benefit from a breast ultrasound, and I discuss that in this podcast. Lastly, there are rare cases where women should not receive mammograms at certain points in their lives. Women younger than 30 should not get a mammogram unless they have a diagnosis of breast cancer and they need to complete their preoperative workup. A breast ultrasound is the best starting point for women younger than 30 with a palpable breast mass. Annual mammography in women with certain genetic mutations such as p53, ATM, and BRCA1 is controversial. However, most agree that those with p53 should not and those with ATM and BRCA1 should undergo a mammogram. However, it is best to discuss the appropriate screening methods for these high risk scenarios with your own breast specialist.
Real Women’s Health Podcast was created by Dr. Kristin Rojas, a fellowship-trained breast cancer surgeon and board-certified gynecologic surgeon with a passion for comprehensive wellness in women’s cancer care. In a world of dangerous misinformation and medical myths, she hopes to create a series of informative podcasts with her colleagues and friends that will give women, young and old, the important health-related facts, advice, and guidelines to lead healthy, independent lives. Knowledge is POWER!
Don’t forget to like and rate this episode! The podcast will be available on your favorite podcatcher websites including podbean, Google podcasts, Alexa, iTunes, etc. For comments and questions please email realwomenshealth@gmail.com. For more information, you can follow me @kristinrojasmd on Instagram or Twitter.