A note on terms:
Breast cancer can affect anybody, and everybody is welcome in CoppaFeel!’s community. We’re actively inclusive in our language and we ask people how they want to be described.
The word ‘chest’ is inclusive of all bodies and genders. When we need to be clinically accurate we use the word ‘breast’. You might prefer to call your chest something else, and that’s ok!
Who is invited for breast screening?
In the UK, women aged 50 – 70 are invited to have breast screening every 3 years as part of a national screening programme. It is rare for men to have breast cancer, so they are not invited to be screened.
Breast screening uses x-rays or sound waves to take pictures inside your breast and look for breast cancer. Breast cancer screening could be by one of 2 scans:
- Mammogram
- Ultrasound.
Why don’t we screen women under 50?
In most cases, the risks of screening women under 50 would outweigh the benefits. Women with a high risk of breast cancer can be screened at any age. However, low-risk women under 50 are not invited to be screened as part of the national screening programme. X-ray exposes you to a tiny amount of radiation, and any exposure to radiation can very slightly increase your risk of cancer. Mammograms of young women are also more difficult to read, as their breast tissue is denser. Women under 50 would need more frequent scans, so they would have more exposure to radiation.
It is important to get to know your breasts and chest area whether you are screened or not. Make sure you know what is normal for you and your body. If you notice any unusual changes, make an appointment to see your GP, even if you have a scan appointment coming up.
Mammogram Screening
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. When you go for a mammogram, a female staff member (mammographer) will be in the room with you. The mammographer will tell you to undress to the waist and stand in front of the mammogram machine. She will help to position you so she can take the best picture of your breast. Both breasts will be x-rayed, one after the other. Some people find mammograms slightly uncomfortable, but it is over very quickly. You can still have a mammogram if you have breast implants. Just let your mammographer know before your scan.
Breast Ultrasound
Younger people with symptoms of breast cancer may have an ultrasound scan.
Ultrasound is painless. It is a good scan for looking at young breast tissue. That’s because young breast tissue is denser than breast tissue in older people.
For the ultrasound, you will be asked to undress to the waist and sit or lie down on a couch. The specialist will put some clear gel on your breast and armpit, and then move the handheld scanner all over that area. Ultrasound is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you can still be referred to the breast clinic for tests if you need to be.
Younger, high risk people without symptoms may be referred for regular MRI breast screening scans. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It’s a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to take detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
Breast screening FAQs
Why don’t people under 50 have routine mammograms in the UK?
Women with a high risk of breast cancer (for example those who carry the BRCA gene mutation) can be screened at any age.
Low-risk women under 50 and men are not invited to be screened as part of the national screening programme. This is because the risks are greater than the benefits. X-ray exposes you to a tiny amount of radiation, and any exposure to radiation can very slightly increase your risk of cancer. Mammograms on young women are also more difficult to read, as their breast tissue is denser. Women under 50 would need more frequent scans, so they would have more exposure to radiation. A lot can happen in the time between scans so the most important thing is that everyone gets to know their chests whether they are screened or not.
Our friends at the LGBTIQ+ cancer charity OUTpatients more information about breast cancer screening.
Why aren't people under 50 invited for MRI screening?*
*MRI is a type of scan which produces detailed images of the inside of the body.
Breast Screening with MRI is offered to younger people at higher risk of breast cancer and is very effective. Currently MRI scanners and departments don’t have the capacity needed to offer this to the whole population.
Do mammograms hurt?
A mammogram will feel tight for a few seconds, a bit like the feeling of a blood pressure cuff. Some people will find the sensation uncomfortable depending on the sensitivity of their breast tissue. The compression applied is very important to produce clear images with no blurring.
Can you have a mammogram if you've had implants?
Yes. Minimal compression will be applied and the mammographer will ask the person’s consent to take an extra image of the front of each breast so they can see all of the breast tissue.
Do mammograms only find a small number of breast cancers?
Mammograms are highly sensitive in showing solid/fluid filled masses and other changes in the chest area. Breast screening finds early cancers before symptoms are felt and saves many people’s lives every year. Very occasionally, cancers may be missed or not shown on mammography. When symptoms are present, other tests such as additional mammography techniques, ultrasound and MRI may be used to help diagnose breast cancer.
A friend is going for a breast screening appointment and she will be given the results straight away, how do they do that?
Most NHS breast clinics offer ‘one stop’ appointments. This is when a consultation, examination and imaging all happen on the same day. The specialists will give results that day where possible. Biopsy results will not be available on the same day, and sometimes further imaging tests/biopsies are needed which may be booked on a different day.
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This information was published in April 2021. It will be revised in April 2024.