Breast Cancer Screening 

Breast cancer is one of the types of cancer that can be screened for. There are two different screening tests health professionals often use to screen for breast cancer: the mammogram (MA-muh-gram) and the clinical breast exam (CBE). Talk to your doctor about when you should be screened.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. This test may find tumors too small to feel. This test may also find abnormal cells in the lining of the breast duct called ductal carcinoma in situ, which may become invasive cancer in some women.

A clinical breast exam is an exam of the breast by a doctor or other health professional. The doctor will check for any lumps or other unusual signs by carefully feeling around the breast and under the arms.

If something unusual like a lump or another change is found by a clinical breast exam or a mammogram, follow-up tests may be needed. One follow-up test that may be used is an ultrasound. An ultrasound is not, by itself, a screening test.

For general information on breast cancer, click here and visit the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.

 

Other breast cancer screening resources:

• Iowa Care For Yourself Program
• Breast Cancer Screening information for Patients
• Get A Mammogram: Do It for Yourself, Do It for Your Family
• Mammography: Search for a Certified Facility
• Screening Mammograms: Questions and Answers
• Breast Imaging Study
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening

En Espanol:

• Mamografias selectivas de deteccion: preguntas y respuestas
• American Cancer Society: Resumen sobre el cáncer de seno

Information on breast cancer screening options was adapted from the National Cancer Institute.