According to a survey from MedStar Health, almost half of U.S. women eligible for an annual mammogram—age 40 or over—do not receive one every year, and just over one in ten have never had a mammogram.
Mammograms should become an essential part of your self-care routine because they can help detect early signs of breast cancer. Some forms of breast cancer, like DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)—a non-invasive cancer contained within the breast’s milk ducts—cannot be detected through self-examination and rely on mammograms or even MRIs for detection.
The procedure, though often described as painful, is usually only uncomfortable due to the pressure placed on the breast. A typical mammogram takes just 10 to 15 minutes. Images are produced quickly, and you should be able to discuss your results with your doctor before leaving the clinic. Overall, the process should not take more than an hour.
For women over 40, most insurance companies cover 2D mammogram screenings. Medicare and other major health care providers also cover 3D mammograms for women in the same age group.
It is important for women to get annual screenings to ensure that no cancer is developing. Clinical breast exams are especially vital for younger women since cancer cells can grow more rapidly in younger tissue. Mammograms can detect abnormalities as small as a pea and are therefore more successful in early detection than self-exams, which often identify cancers later, when lumps are larger and more advanced.
Copyright © 2025 CMedEd.com
