i am in the late 40's would like to go for mammogram,can someone tell me how save is mamogram please?

Question

afraid of radiation.

Answer 1

Are you asking about the radiation dose to the breasts from mammography? It is very low, and the risks of missing an early breast cancer far outweighs any potential risk from the exposure of the breast to radiation. I am a mammographer, but I am giving your sources, since you don't know who I am or what I do for a living.....

"The standard mammography exam usually includes four exposures; two to each breast. With a well calibrated mammography unit, the breast tissue is the only tissue exposed to x-rays during a mammography exam. The radiation dose from mammography is regulated by the FDA, and is evaluated routinely by a qualified medical physicist. The dose to the breast tissue from mammography is approximately equivalent to a whole-body dose from annual background radiation.
Even though the dose from mammography might seem high when compared to other x-ray exams, the patient's overall risk from a single mammography exam is quite low.
Patients should also remember that a mammographic film produced with a radiation dose that is too low can be potentially harmful. The image of the breast created with a very low dose will be inferior in image quality when compared to a film produced with an adequate radiation dose. Adequate radiation doses are established by a medical physicist evaluation and a good quality assurance program.
Thus, the great benefit of mammography in its ability to detect cancer early, far outweighs the radiation risk from the exam."

http://www.aapm.org/publicgeneral/mammography.asp

"The effective radiation dose from a mammogram is about 0.7 mSv, which is about the same as the average person receives from background radiation in three months. Federal mammography guidelines require that each unit be checked by a medical physicist every year to ensure that the unit operates correctly."

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=mammo&bhcp=1#part_nine

Answer 2

For sure you need a mammo. Check with your insurance because most today, due to a Federal mandate, offer it. Mine is under 'wellness" and covered 100%. Insurance will cover routine meaning no problems to talk about like tenderness, swelling, or drainage. Make sure when you make the appointment you say and confirm "routine".

Call the local Cancer Society. Where I live there actually is a Mammo-mobile that goes around giving free and/or discounted mammo.

There is NO radiation to speak of with the new mammo machines. The days of the severe pain are gone too. Today it is a digital picture so you don't have to wait for the x-ray plate to be processed. In about two weeks you get a written report. BUT you will need a referral from a doctor if you want the insurance to pay for it.

Answer 3

the amount of radiation you recieve is minimal. You would die of breast cancer before you'd die of radiation exposure