Can mammograms cause breast cancer?
Can mammograms cause breast cancer?
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The benefits of mammograms almost always outweigh the potential harms that come from radiation exposure. However, undergoing repeated mammogram screenings can potentially cause cancer.
The benefits of mammograms almost always outweigh the potential harms that come from radiation exposure. However, undergoing repeated mammogram screenings can potentially cause cancer.
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What our experts say
The benefits of mammograms nearly always outweigh the potential harms that come from radiation exposure. However, undergoing repeated mammogram screenings can potentially cause cancer.
It should be noted that there has never been a case of breast cancer that has been proven to have been caused by mammograms.
The risk of harm from radiation is low and mammogram machines use lower doses of radiation than x-rays of other parts of the body like bones.
Mammogram machines tend to be highly regulated in nations with strong national health agencies and regulatory bodies. The very small amount of radiation used during mammograms is equal to roughly 2 - 6 months of what is known as background radiation for the average person. Background radiation is radiation that is naturally present in the environment at a particular pace that is not due to unnatural radiation sources.
Modern mammograms use a type of radiation called ionizing radiation in the form of x-ray beams. In the United States, people are exposed to roughly 3 millisieverts per year in their daily lives. This number can differ in other countries.
For context, a mammogram with two views of the right and left breast causes about 0.4 millisieverts to be used, though this number can be lower or higher depending on the device.
The chances of a mammogram screening causing breast cancer are very low. For women ages 40 to 74, mammograms can help reduce deaths from breast cancer. For women under 40, there is not enough evidence to determine the risks versus the benefits.
At this point in time, mammograms are the best screening tools we have in general for breast cancer but they do have limitations including imperfect accuracy and radiation exposure.
The benefits of mammograms nearly always outweigh the potential harms that come from radiation exposure. However, undergoing repeated mammogram screenings can potentially cause cancer.
It should be noted that there has never been a case of breast cancer that has been proven to have been caused by mammograms.
The risk of harm from radiation is low and mammogram machines use lower doses of radiation than x-rays of other parts of the body like bones.
Mammogram machines tend to be highly regulated in nations with strong national health agencies and regulatory bodies. The very small amount of radiation used during mammograms is equal to roughly 2 - 6 months of what is known as background radiation for the average person. Background radiation is radiation that is naturally present in the environment at a particular pace that is not due to unnatural radiation sources.
Modern mammograms use a type of radiation called ionizing radiation in the form of x-ray beams. In the United States, people are exposed to roughly 3 millisieverts per year in their daily lives. This number can differ in other countries.
For context, a mammogram with two views of the right and left breast causes about 0.4 millisieverts to be used, though this number can be lower or higher depending on the device.
The chances of a mammogram screening causing breast cancer are very low. For women ages 40 to 74, mammograms can help reduce deaths from breast cancer. For women under 40, there is not enough evidence to determine the risks versus the benefits.
At this point in time, mammograms are the best screening tools we have in general for breast cancer but they do have limitations including imperfect accuracy and radiation exposure.
Context and background
There are many myths associated with breast cancer and mammograms. These have been around for some time and are potentially popular because of the irony of a cancer screening tool potentially causing cancer.
Despite these rumors and myths, there have been no confirmed cases of breast cancer or other cancers that have been directly linked to mammograms given its minimal risk. People getting a mammogram should always talk to their physicians about their care and risks.
There are many myths associated with breast cancer and mammograms. These have been around for some time and are potentially popular because of the irony of a cancer screening tool potentially causing cancer.
Despite these rumors and myths, there have been no confirmed cases of breast cancer or other cancers that have been directly linked to mammograms given its minimal risk. People getting a mammogram should always talk to their physicians about their care and risks.
Resources
- WHO position paper on mammography screening (World Health Organization)
- Mammogram Basics (American Cancer Society)
- Mammograms (United states National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute)
- Mammography screening is harmful and should be abandoned (Journal of The Royal Society of Medicine)
- 6 Mammogram Myths (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
- Mammogram (Mayo Clinic)
- Facts & Myths (Provincial Health Services Authority)
- WHO position paper on mammography screening (World Health Organization)
- Mammogram Basics (American Cancer Society)
- Mammograms (United states National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute)
- Mammography screening is harmful and should be abandoned (Journal of The Royal Society of Medicine)
- 6 Mammogram Myths (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
- Mammogram (Mayo Clinic)
- Facts & Myths (Provincial Health Services Authority)
