mamograms.....?

Question

i havent had one yet and i am 36 when should i start those?

Answer 1

Women 40 years and older should get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.
Women who have had breast cancer or other breast problems or who have a family history of breast cancer, might need to start getting mammograms before age 40 or they might need to get them more often. Talk to your doctor about when to start and how often you should have a mammogram.

Where can I get a mammogram?
Be sure to get a mammogram from a facility certified by the FDA. These places must meet high standards for their x-ray machines and staff. Check out the FDA's web site on the Internet at: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography/certified.html for a list of FDA-certified mammography facilities. Some of these facilities also offer digital mammograms.

Your doctor, local medical clinic, or local or state health department can tell you where to get no-cost or low-cost mammograms. You can also call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service toll free at 1-800-422-6237 (TTY is 1-800-332-8615). Visit them online at http://www.cancer.gov.

How do I get ready for my mammogram?
First, check with the place you are having the mammogram for any special instructions you may need to follow before you go. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

Make your mammogram appointment for one week after your period. Your breasts hurt less after your period.
If you have breast implants, be sure to tell your mammography facility that you have them when you make your appointment.
Wear a shirt with shorts, pants, or a skirt. This way, you can undress from the waist up and leave your shorts, pants, or skirt on when you get your mammogram.
Don't wear any deodorant, perfume, lotion, or powder under your arms or on your breasts on the day of your mammogram appointment. These things can make shadows show up on your mammogram.
Are there any problems with mammograms?
As with any medical test, mammograms have limits. These limits include:

They are only part of a complete breast exam. Your doctor also should do a clinical breast exam. If your mammogram finds something abnormal, your doctor will order other tests.
"False negatives" can happen. This means everything may look normal, but cancer is actually present. False negatives don't happen often. Younger women are more likely to have a false negative mammogram than are older women. This is because the breast tissue is denser, making cancer harder to spot.
"False positives" can happen. This is when the mammogram results look like cancer is present, even though it is not. False positives are more common in younger women than older women.

Answer 2

Experts have different recommendations for how often you should have a mammogram.

For women older than age 50, regular mammograms (every 1 to 2 years) are recommended.

For women between the ages of 40 and 50, the benefits of mammogram are not as clear. Talk with your health professional to determine when to start and how often to have a mammogram. Some organizations recommend mammograms every 1 to 2 years while others recommend mammograms every year. Most organizations recommend that women have their first mammogram at age 40.

Your health professional may recommend testing more often if you have risk factors for breast cancer. Any woman with a personal or family history of breast cancer is recommended to have yearly mammograms.

Answer 3

The clarity of digital mammography has gotten so advanced that the benefits of getting a mammo at age 30 outweigh the risks of radiation w/out results. I would say if you have no family hx of cancer start at 45, although it is better to be safe than sorry.
P.S. I do the ultrasounds that follow up the abnormal mammograms, and most of the women we see are slightly older like late 50's and older

Nate RDMS

Answer 4

Doctors may vary with their opinion of this, but norm is to have a baseline done at 35 and regular mammograms from age 40 on.

Answer 5

If you have a family history of breast cancer you should have what they call a baseline screening mammogram. I am 35 and have to have them as well because of a family history of breast cancer.

I would also recommend getting your doctor's opinion to see what they say.

In most women without a family history of breast cancer the doctors will start them out at age 40.

Answer 6

you should already start it.