Screening Smarts for Breast Cancer Prevention

What Is Breast Cancer Screening?

Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are any signs or symptoms. The goal is to catch cancer early—when it’s easier to treat and most likely to be cured.

Who Is Considered at “Average Risk” for Breast Cancer?

You are considered average risk if you:

• Do not have a personal history of breast cancer

• Do not have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer

• Do not carry a known gene mutation (like BRCA1 or BRCA2)

• Have not had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30

If you’re not sure whether you’re average or high risk, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider.

What Does “High Risk” for Breast Cancer Mean?

You may be considered at high risk for breast cancer if:

• Your lifetime breast cancer risk assessment score is higher than 20%

• You have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, especially in close relatives like your mother, sister, or daughter

• You carry a gene mutation linked to breast cancer, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or other inherited mutations

• You had radiation therapy to the chest (such as for Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30

• You have certain breast conditions found on biopsy that increase risk

If any of these apply, your screening plan will likely be different from average-risk guidelines.

What Should My Screening Be?

Average Risk Women

• Start screening at age 40 

• Screening is done once a year with a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast

High Risk Women

• You can start screening as early as age 25 to 30, or 10 years earlier than the youngest breast cancer case in your family

• Screening is done once a year with a breast MRI if you are less than 30 years old

• Yearly mammograms can begin as early as age 30, often alternating with MRIs every 6 months for closer monitoring

Why Screening Matters

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Screening can:

• Find cancer early, before it spreads

• Make treatment easier and more effective

• Save lives

But it’s also important to understand that screening isn’t perfect. Sometimes it can:

• Find things that aren’t cancer (false alarms)

• Miss some cancers

• Lead to follow-up tests or even treatments you might not have needed

What About Self Breast Exams?

• Self breast exams (checking your own breasts regularly) are not recommended as a screening tool on their own. They haven’t been shown to reduce deaths from breast cancer.

• Still, it’s good to be familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. If you notice any changes—like a new lump, nipple discharge, nipple changes, or skin changes—talk to your doctor right away!

The most important step? Have a conversation with your healthcare provider about when to start screening and how often to do it. Together, you can make a decision that fits your health needs!