Healthy Families | Why Breast Cancer Screening and Mammograms Matter

When should you start getting mammograms, and why does early detection of breast cancer matter?

Breast cancer screening can help find changes in breast tissue before you notice a lump or other symptoms. Finding breast cancer earlier can make a significant difference in treatment and outcomes.

Deanna Padilla, FNP-C, Associate Medical Director at Omni Family Health, discusses what women should know about mammograms, breast cancer risk factors, family history, and the importance of staying up to date with recommended screenings.

For many women, the breast cancer screening conversation should begin around age 40. Individual risk matters, however. Women with a family history of breast cancer or other factors that may place them at higher risk should talk with their health care provider about whether screening needs to begin earlier.

Knowing your family history is an important part of that conversation. Breast cancer may not always have been openly discussed by parents, grandparents, and previous generations, so asking family members about their health history can provide valuable information to share with your provider.

At the same time, having no family history of breast cancer does not mean screening is unnecessary. Breast cancer can occur in women without a known family history.

Some women also put off mammograms because they are anxious about the procedure or have experienced discomfort during a previous screening. Those feelings are understandable, but a brief period of discomfort can provide important information about your breast health.

Routine preventive visits are a good opportunity to talk with your provider about your breast cancer risk, family history, and when you should have your next mammogram.

Read our complete guide to breast cancer screening, mammograms, early detection, and risk factors.

To schedule a visit with Omni Family Health, call or text 866-707-OMNI (6664) or find a provider or health center near you.