1. 1.       What is Mammography?

Mammography is the technique where low energy XRay is used to detect Breast Cancer. It Can be used for screening and also for diagnosis of breast cancer.

1. 2.       Why Mammography screening program is useful?

• Allows to detect breast cancer early in order to permit mortality reduction and improved therapeutic options
• It is associated with acceptable side effects for the specific population
• Yields reproducible results
• Can be applied at regular intervals to the population at acceptable costs for the society.

1. 3.       Who are the people advised for screening Mammogram?

• Females between 50yr to 75yrs are strictly recommended for screening mammography once every 2years.
• Females between 40yrs to 50yrs may be advised for screening mammography if strong family history of breast cancer is present (Mother or sister affected), previous radiation to chest wall at early age for diseases like Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• A suspicious lump is noticed in breast by the patient.

1. 4.       What are the advantages of Mammography?

• Improved Treatment of Early Disease: Early detection can help in improved treatment and complete cure of carcinoma
• Breast conservation surgery is a possible option in early breast cancer hence patient can have better cosmetic result.
• In patients where cancer is detected in very early stage the surgery will be very simple and will have very less surgical side effects.
• In very early cancers patients may not need further chemotherapy which is associated with number of side effects.
• Radiotherapy in early breast cancer (for patients undergoing breast conservation surgery) will be very simple with no side effects. The patient may not need radiotherapy if patient opts for complete removal of breast in early breast cancer.

1. 5.      What are the disadvantages of screening mammography?

• Screening mammography may detect abnormalities that require further evaluation but will eventually turn out to be benign. (All positive in mammography should not be assumed as final diagnosis it needs further evaluation with biopsy)
• Sometimes screening mammogram may miss the tumor.
• Exposure of low energy XRay hence contraindicated in pregnant women. The radiation exposure risk is minimal as compared to benefit of early diagnosis.