From the Guidelines
No, mammograms do not cause breast cancer. Mammograms use low-dose X-rays to create images of breast tissue, and while they do expose the breasts to a small amount of radiation, this exposure is minimal and considered safe 1. The benefits of mammography in detecting breast cancer early far outweigh the extremely small potential risk from radiation exposure. A typical mammogram delivers about 0.4 millisieverts of radiation, which is comparable to the background radiation a person naturally receives over about 7 weeks from their environment. The radiation from mammograms is not enough to increase cancer risk significantly. Medical organizations worldwide continue to recommend regular mammogram screenings for women at appropriate ages because early detection of breast cancer through mammography saves lives by allowing for earlier treatment when cancer is more treatable 1. If you're concerned about mammogram radiation, discuss your specific risk factors with your healthcare provider, but don't avoid this potentially life-saving screening out of fear of radiation exposure. Some studies have suggested that there may be a small increased risk of breast cancer associated with radiation exposure from mammography in certain high-risk populations, such as women with a family history of breast cancer or those with a genetic mutation that increases their risk of breast cancer 1. However, the benefits of mammography in detecting breast cancer early and reducing mortality outweigh the potential risks, and regular mammogram screenings are still recommended for women at average risk of breast cancer. It's essential to weigh the benefits and risks of mammography and discuss any concerns with a healthcare provider to make an informed decision about breast cancer screening. The most recent and highest-quality studies, such as those published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology 1, support the use of mammography as a safe and effective tool for breast cancer screening. Overall, the evidence suggests that mammograms do not cause breast cancer and are a crucial tool in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
From the Research
Mammogram and Breast Cancer Risk
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that mammograms cause breast cancer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies focus on the effectiveness of mammography in reducing breast cancer deaths and the recommendations for breast cancer screening for women at average and higher-than-average risk 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Mammography is recommended as a screening tool to reduce breast cancer mortality, with annual screening starting at age 40 for women at average risk 2, 4.
- The benefits of screening, including reduced mortality and earlier detection, are weighed against the risks of recall for additional imaging and benign biopsy, as well as the less tangible risks of anxiety and overdiagnosis 2.
Screening Modalities and Recommendations
- Mammography remains the only validated screening tool to reduce breast cancer mortality, but other modalities such as breast MRI and ultrasound are also used, particularly for women at higher-than-average risk 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The American College of Radiology and other specialty societies recommend annual mammography screening starting at age 40 for women at average risk, with supplemental screening recommendations for women at higher-than-average risk 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Breast MRI is recommended as a supplemental screening method for women at higher-than-average risk, particularly those with genetic mutations or a history of breast cancer 3, 5.
Diagnostic Performance of Screening Modalities
- A comparison of the diagnostic performance of MRI, ultrasound, and mammography for breast cancer detection found that MRI had the highest sensitivity, followed by ultrasound and then mammography 6.
- The combination of multiple screening modalities, such as MRI and ultrasound or mammography and MRI, can increase diagnostic ability compared to using a single modality alone 6.