Mammograms: The Experts Share Their Thoughts

Whether it’s your first mammogram or your 31^st, it’s normal to be a bit apprehensive before the exam, doctors say. But they warn against letting your fear or your busy schedule interfere with making your screening appointment. Skipping or delaying your mammogram is a move that could put your life in jeopardy.

“Women tend to be taking care of everybody else: their kids, their moms, their parents, their jobs. But if you could take a little bit of time and once a year go get your screening mammogram, it could potentially save your life,” says diagnostic radiologist Juliette The, M.D., with the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health.

(Watch now: Whether it’s your first mammogram or your 31^st, it’s normal to be a bit apprehensive. But skipping or delaying your mammogram could put your life in jeopardy, say experts with Baptist Health Cancer Care. Video by Michael Justiz.)

In 2025, approximately 375,000 cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. With the incidence continuing to rise, particularly among younger women, physicians were stunned when a national study published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that more than one-third of women eligible to begin breast cancer screening mammograms at age 40 prefer to wait until age 50.

The Importance of Early Detection

“Mammograms are the gold standard for screening for breast cancer,” says Jane Mendez, M.D., chief of breast surgery at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute. “And we know that it’s extremely effective. By the time we feel a lump, it is usually already further advanced.”

Like with most other cancers, the earlier breast cancer is discovered, the better chance of survival and the less likelihood that a patient will have to undergo the most aggressive treatment.

The newest guidelines by the American College of Radiology and the American Society of Breast Surgeons recommend that women at average risk for breast cancer start screening at age 40 and continue annually. It’s easy to schedule your mammogram at a Baptist Health diagnostic imaging location from the Keys through Palm Beach County. Appointments are available online at BaptistHealth.net/Mammo or through the PineApp.

What to Expect at Your Mammogram

For those who have never had a mammogram, the process is quick and simple, says Christina McDonald, a Baptist Health diagnostic imaging mammography clinical specialist. “I think nervousness comes more from the exam itself and it being uncomfortable rather than the results,” she said. “I would say it’s not as bad as anybody thinks. It’s 10 seconds a picture and typically four pictures.”

When you come to a Baptist Health diagnostic imaging location for a mammogram, you’ll first check in with registration. A mammography technologist will give you a gown to change into and you’ll remove just your shirt and bra. The technologist will review some of your information, risk factors and health history, and after positioning you properly for the test, the images will be taken.

“It shouldn’t be painful. A little bit of pressure and discomfort is normal, but all of the techs who do this have great compassion. They will make you feel extremely comfortable,” Ms. McDonald said.

If patients have very dense breasts, which make it harder to see abnormalities, it may be recommended that they have additional studies that might include an ultrasound, CT or MRI.

Dedicated breast radiologists review the images, looking for particular shapes or patterns that could indicate cancer, Dr. The said. Artificial intelligence also helps pinpoint areas of concern that are impossible to see with the naked eye so that radiologists can take a closer look.

Patients and their doctors are sent a report, indicating the findings. You can also find your results on the patient portal if you have an account. You’ll also be told if you have dense breasts so that you can talk to your doctor about the need for additional testing. If all is well — and for the majority of women it is — you’ll be advised to schedule your next mammogram a year later, unless you notice a problem that warrants immediate attention.

When Something “Suspicious” is Detected

Being consistent year after year also allows physicians to compare images to see if a problem is new or developing. Typically, a diagnostic mammogram is advised if a patient or physician feels a lump upon a breast exam, or a patient comes in after a screening mammogram identifies a potential abnormality.

“If it warrants a workup, we’ll generally get additional mammographic views — other views that we don’t do routinely,” Dr. Mendez said. “During a diagnostic mammogram, our radiologists are reading those images in real time because we need to come to a conclusion and give a final recommendation. We’ll do as many images as necessary and an ultrasound, if needed. At the end of the day, that patient leaves with a final recommendation. Is it something that we don’t need to worry about because the additional imaging shows it’s nothing? Or do we need to perform some type of biopsy?”

Breast Cancer Risk Increases with Age

The risk of breast cancer goes up as we age, and for that reason, Dr. Mendez reminds women that if they are otherwise in good health and they are willing to receive treatment should something be found, they should continue yearly mammograms irrespective of age.

“Today women are living longer lives and healthier lives,” she said. “The oldest patient I’ve ever treated, 99 years of age, had surgery and went home the same day.”

Baptist Health facilities feature the most sophisticated breast imaging technology in the hands of experts. And the cancer institutes also offer genetic testing, a full range of support services, clinical trials, and nurse navigators who help those diagnosed with cancer handle the complexities of their health journey from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship.