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Jess Bailey was doing a home workout when she put her weight on her chest.
She felt a hard lump, like a marble.
After seeing her GP, Jess had an ultrasound done and was soon advised to have a mammogram.
“I found out that they only allow mammograms for younger women if there’s a problem with the ultrasound results,” she told ABC News.
Jess was 27 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer – and she had no family history of it.
“It was just bad luck,” she said.
Fast forward to August 2021, his luck has turned for the better.
She has completed her chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“Life is pretty much back to normal.”
To “cover all his bases”, Jess now has annual mammograms, MRIs and ultrasounds.
Jess’s rare case brings up a common myth about mammograms: you only need to have them when you’re over 50.
Let’s break down everything about mammograms and, with the help of these experts, bust some myths about them.
What is a mammogram?
It is a breast X-raysays Dr Ben Lancashire, breast cancer specialist and surgeon at Mater Private Hospital in Brisbane.
“He can see things that sometimes we can’t feel on a physical exam,” Dr. Lancashire told ABC News.
“It is used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms.”
A mammogram examines the breast tissue to see if there are any abnormal lumps or changes in the structure of the breasts, says Dr. Lancashire.
What happens during a mammogram?
Medical professionals called radiographers or mammography technologists perform screening mammograms.
You will be taken to a private X-ray room and asked to remove your clothes from the waist down.
The radiologist will then place one breast at a time between two plates on the x-ray machine.
“This stretches the breast tissue so that clear images can be taken,” says Dr Lancashire.
The machine presses firmly against your breast for approximately 10 seconds to take the picture.
Usually two photos of each breast are requiredone side and one top.
“In total, it only takes about 20 seconds,” he says.
Does a mammogram hurt?
Everyone experiences mammograms differently.
It’s normal to feel some discomfort, but it should only last a few seconds, says Dr. Lancashire.
“The pressure exerted on your breasts by the test equipment may cause pain or discomfort, and that’s normal.”
Who should have a mammogram?
Most breast cancer diagnoses are “typically in the 50-74 age range”, says Dr Lancashire.
But because of this, there is a misconception that you don’t need to have one if you are outside of this age group.
“Women between the ages of 40 and 49 and those over the age of 74 can also be screened.”
“The only thing is they won’t get invitation letters until they’re 50,” he says.
“But I would recommend people start at 40.”
Doctors strongly encourage women to have a mammogram every two years.
Especially if you have a family history of breast cancer, says Kirsten Pilatti, CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia.
“If you’re a healthy woman living in Australia right now, start getting mammograms at 40.”
Can you have a mammogram before the age of 40?
Breast shields are not encouraged for women under 40according to Breast Screen NSW.
Dr Lancashire echoes that, agreeing that having a mammogram at under 40 “might be too young”.
But the reason has to do with breast density.
“The younger you are, the denser your breasts are,” says Ms. Pilatti.
“Dense breasts don’t mean bigger breasts,” says Pilatti.
Dense breasts “make it harder for mammograms to pick up small cancers,” says Dr Lancashire.
Jess’ experience mirrors what the experts say.
“Because I was so young when I was diagnosed, I was told that my breast density made it difficult for mammograms to detect cancer.”
Instead, Dr Lancashire and Ms Pilatti recommend younger women see their GP first to explore other testssuch as an MRI or a biopsy.
Or as Jess was advised to do: an ultrasound.
Are there any risks?
Over-diagnosis, false negative and false positive results And radiation exposure are potential risks, according to the Cancer Council Australia.
Although these risks should be considered by individuals, the benefits of mammograms outweigh the riskssays the Cancer Council.
This is the same position taken by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
How much radiation is there?
“It’s very low,” according to Dr Lancashire.
“There is a lot less radiation from a mammogram than there is from a CT scan.”
The Department of Health and Aged Care also confirms this.
“We expose your breasts to the smallest amount of radiation possible.”
“That’s about the same as 18 weeks of radiation exposure in a natural environment.”
What happens after the mammogram?
Results are usually mailed within two weeks to you or your doctor or health service, if you have given your consent.
How much does a mammogram cost?
Screening mammograms are free every two years for all Australian women aged 40 and over who have no signs or symptoms of breast disease.
Women who have been referred for a mammogram by their doctor may have to pay a fee, says the Cancer Council.
Although there is a Medicare rebate for mammograms, many private imaging clinics charge more than the Medicare program fee.
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