What is a mammogram / mammography exam?

A mammography exam or mammogram is an x-ray of the breasts to detect breast masses or lumps that may be too small to be detected by physical examination. These small lumps may be the first signs of early breast cancer.

How often should I have a mammogram?

In general, all women between the ages of 40 and 49 are recommended to have a mammogram every one to two years, with the first at age 40 to create a baseline mammogram. After age 50, mammograms are recommended annually. Some physicians even recommend to have the baseline mammogram earlier - around age 35. Ask your physician who usually does your annual checkups about the specific recommendation for you.

Is a mammogram painful?

The breasts are compressed between two plates for a brief time during mammography. This spreads out the breast tissue to allow a better view to be taken. Some women find this slightly uncomfortable, thus it is best to have the mammogram around one to two weeks from the 1st day of your menstrual period. This is the time when the breasts are less likely to be tender.

Is the level of radiation dangerous?

No. Radiation from a mammogram is now less than the radiation you would receive if you sat on the beach for a day or is about equivalent to that of having a dental x-ray.

I have no family history of breast cancer, do I still need a mammogram?

All women are at risk for breast cancer. While family history is a risk factor, only 3-5% of breast cancer cases had a family member with the disease. Other risk factors identified include early onset of menopause, late menopause, having no children, and low physical activity. However, around 70% of breast cancer cases still had the disease without any identified risk factor.

Are mammograms really reliable?

No screening exam or test is perfect. Mammograms can find 80-90% of all breast cancers. Reasons why mammography may be unable to detect some tumors include: very small size of the tumor, firmness of breast tissue, obesity of patient, or if the tumor is located near or on the chest wall. Breast cancers are also generally slow growing. Usually by the time a tumor is detected by mammography, it has actually been growing for as little as a year (usually in younger women) or as long as eight to ten years (usually in older women). However, mammography together with clinical breast exam by your physician and correct self-breast exam are still the best tools at present for early detection of breast cancer. Early detection provides a woman with more options for treatment and increases the probability of good recovery.

What are my chances of getting breast cancer?

The Philippines now holds the dubious distinction of having the highest breast cancer incidence rate in Asia, except for Israel. The DOH and the Philippine Cancer Society says there are around 9, 300 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed yearly - that’s about 1 woman every hour diagnosed to have the disease. Around 3,000 of these women die every year because despite the availability of tools to diagnose them early, many have been detected at an advanced stage already.

Mammography is available at:

Healthway Medical - Shangri-La Plaza

5th Level, Wellness Zone,

Shangri-la Plaza Mall,

Edsa cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City

Tel 910- 4929 to 44

Healthway Medical - Alabang Town Center

2F Alabang Town Center, Alabang

Zapote Rd., Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Tel: 850-6721, 772-3527