Mammography

(120 KB)

The Issue

In certain situations, doctors recommend that women have breast X-rays, known as mammograms, in order to detect breast cancers at the earliest possible stage of development.

Some women may have concerns about being exposed to radiation during mammograms.

Background

Breast cancer comes second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer related dealths in Canadian women. In 1997, an estimated 18,400 new cases were reported and 5,100 people died from breast cancer.

The risk of getting breast cancer increases as women age. Figures show that about 11 percent of Canadian women, one in nine, will get breast cancer.

Mammography

The purpose of mammography is to find developing cancer of the breast as early as possible. Early detection usually means more effective treatment. It can save lives and can also contribute to a better quality of life by reducing the need for radical treatments.

Mammography is an imaging technique that uses X-rays to provide a picture of the internal structure of the breast. The X-rays can show abnormal growths or changes in breast tissue before they can be found by any other method, including breast self-examination.

Your doctor will likely request a mammogram in th