Mammograms detect breast cancer, but they do carry some risks.
Mammograms are a diagnostic tool used by doctors to determine if a woman has breast cancer. During a mammogram, the breasts are compressed and scanned to detect changes in their composition. Though mammograms can be a useful tool in diagnosing breast cancer, they are not infallible nor without risks.
Radiation
Each time you get a mammogram you expose yourself to a small dose of radiation. These small amounts pose little risk individually, but over the course of a lifetime they could add up. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the risk of adverse effects of radiation is outweighed by the dangers of missing a breast cancer diagnosis.
False Positives
A false positive occurs when a test shows that you have breast cancer when you actually do not. The Mayo Clinic warns that sometimes mammograms can result in a doctor suspecting breast cancer when no such disease is present. According to the American College of Physicians, there is a 10 percent chance of a false positive each time a mammogram is performed. Over a 10-year period there is a 50 percent chance that at least one false positive will occur.
False Negatives
A false negative occurs when the test determines that you do not have breast cancer when you are actually infected. According to the testimony given to U.S. Congress by Richard D. Klausner, M.D., mammograms may actually miss up to 25 percent of breast cancer cases in women under the age of 50 and 10 to 15 percent in women 50 years of age and older. Consequently, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you pursue further diagnostic tests if you notice a change in your breast to make sure you do not have cancer.
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