How much radiation am I exposed to during a mammogram?
- Equivalent to the amount of radiation you get from flying from NY to CA
- Today, modern mammography equipment uses a small amount of radiation doses to get breast x-rays that are high in image quality
Should I have a mammogram every other year to limit my radiation exposure?
- The radiation you are exposed to during a mammogram is well within safe ranges.
- A mammogram’s radiation dose equals about two months of background radiation (average woman.)
Background radiation is the average natural radiation yearly (from the soil, radon, UV rays, and other sources)
There is constant background radiation in the world that we are exposed to every day. - The ACR and SBI recommend annual mammograms
Why mammography screening matters
- Regular mammograms are the best tests physicians have to find breast cancer early
- When cancer is found early, less invasive treatment is needed
- Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women
(besides skin cancer) - 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime
- Of those cancers diagnosed, 1 in 6 are in women ages 40-49
- Risk of cancer increases as we age
