Mammography

A mammogram uses low dose x-rays to create an image of the breast. It can find changes in the breast that are too small to feel during a physical examination.

Mammograms can be done to screen or to diagnose breast cancer. 

Screening mammograms are done for the general population who do not have any reason to think they may have breast cancer. 

Diagnostic mammograms are done for people who have symptoms, such as a breast lump.

During a mammogram, you will be asked to undress from the waist up. You may choose to wear a top with trousers or a skirt for the mammogram so that you only need to remove your top for screening. 

The healthcare team will make sure you are given privacy to change and that you are undressed for as little time as possible, but you can always let someone know if you are feeling uncomfortable. The Beautiful Shawl Project (Opens in new tab) supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander females who may feel uncomfortable being undressed during breast screening by providing culturally designed screening shawls. Ask the clinic staff if a shawl is available, if you feel uncomfortable being undressed.

The radiographer (x-ray technician) will place your breasts one at a time between 2 plates on an x-ray machine. The machine will press firmly on your breasts to take the x-ray picture. This takes about 10 seconds per breast. Usually 2 x-rays are taken of each breast. 

It’s common to feel uncomfortable during a mammogram, but this usually only lasts for a short time. You can tell your radiographer if you are in pain and need them to stop the mammogram. 

The whole appointment usually takes about 20 minutes. You often receive your results by mail within 2 weeks.

Feeling nervous about mammograms is common, so it can be helpful to remember that the staff are professional and carry out mammograms all the time. You may also choose to bring a support person to your appointment. 

Mammograms increase the chance of early detection and successful treatment of breast cancer.

Around 1 in 8 Australian females develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Screening mammograms are used to find breast cancers early, before they can be seen or felt. 

It is still important to know how your breasts usually look and feel by doing regular breast checks, even when you are having regular mammograms. If you notice any changes or feel something unusual, talk to your doctor.

Changes you may notice could include:

• a breast lump
• nipple changes
• nipple discharge (fluid coming from the nipple)
• change in breast skin colour or texture 
• breast pain

Cancer Council Australia (Opens in new tab) recommends screening mammograms every 2 years for all females aged between 50 and 74 years. This is the age range in which most breast cancers occur and when the benefits of screening are more than any risks. Females aged between 50 and 74 years will receive letters from BreastScreen (Opens in new tab) inviting them to be screened.

Females aged between 40 and 49 and those over 74 years can also be screened free of charge, but they will not receive invitation letters.

If you are between the ages of 40 and 49 years and have a higher risk of breast cancer, your doctor may recommend that you start having screening mammograms. You may have increased risk due to factors such as your family history.

The benefits of screening at a younger age are unclear, as the denser breast tissue affects the image, making it more difficult to check for cancer. More information on breast density is available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Opens in new tab).

For most females aged over 50 years, the benefits of regular mammograms are greater than the risks. The risks of mammograms may include the following:

• Exposure to a low dose of radiation from x-rays.
• A false positive result — a result suggesting a possible cancer that is found to be wrong by follow-up testing. False positive mammograms can be a result of scar tissue, cysts or dense breast tissue.
• A false negative result — this means that breast cancer is present but was not found on the mammogram.
• Overdiagnosis leading to unnecessary treatment — a breast cancer is found and treated that may not have become life-threatening. It can be hard to know which breast cancers may become life-threatening and which breast cancers will not.

While screening mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer in females over 50 years of age, they are not always accurate and may occasionally miss breast cancer present at the time of screening.

If you can feel a lump and are still worried after receiving your negative mammogram result, see your GP to talk about referral to a specialist breast clinic or breast surgeon. 

A specialist can review and request further screening, which may include:

• ultrasound
• biopsy
• tomosynthesis (a 3-dimensional (3D) version of a mammogram)
• magnetic resonance imaging with contrast (an MRI where special dye is injected into your blood)

Treating breast cancer in its early stages can save lives.

Your doctor might refer you for a diagnostic mammogram if you have a lump or other changes in your breast. If you have a breast lump or another symptom and are having a mammogram, your doctor may also recommend an ultrasound or a biopsy.

Mammograms use low-dose x-rays, which expose you to a small amount of radiation. The benefits of getting an early warning about a breast lump usually outweigh the risk of radiation exposure. 

Diagnostic mammograms are still recommended. Speak to your doctor about the benefits and risks of a diagnostic mammogram.

Two-yearly screening mammograms are free through BreastScreen Australia (Opens in new tab) for females aged 40 and over, who do not have any signs or symptoms of breast disease.

Medicare might also offer a rebate on other breast screening tests, such as an MRI, depending on your situation.

If your doctor refers you for a diagnostic mammogram, you may need to pay. Check if you can get a Medicare (Opens in new tab) rebate when you make your appointment.

Call BreastScreen Australia on 13 20 50 for more information or to make an appointment, or visit the BreastScreen website in your state or territory.

• BreastScreen ACT (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen NSW (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen NT (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen Queensland (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen SA (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen Tasmania (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen Victoria (Opens in new tab)
• BreastScreen WA (Opens in new tab)

BreastScreen Australia has videos available on breast cancer screening (Opens in new tab), barriers (Opens in new tab) and the benefits of screening.

BreastScreen Victoria has a series of flyers and fact sheets (Opens in new tab) on breast cancer screening.

Breast Cancer Network Australia has a fact sheet on breast cancer screening (Opens in new tab) available.

Languages other than English

BreastScreen Victoria has fact sheets on breast cancer screening (Opens in new tab) available in many community languages.

Breast Cancer Network Australia has many resources on breast cancer (Opens in new tab) available in community languages. 

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Screen with your sistas (Opens in new tab) has information on breast screening for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Beautiful Shawl Project (Opens in new tab) is an initiative to provide culturally safe breast screening for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) (Opens in new tab) or Affiliate near you.

Information for sexually and gender-diverse people

BreastScreen Victoria has information on breast screening (Opens in new tab) for gender-diverse people.

Can We has information on breast screening (Opens in new tab) for LGBTQ+ communities.