Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer screening

Age < 40 years old

• Monthly breast self examination.
• Optional yearly ultrasound of the breasts if breasts are lumpy and self or clinical examination is difficult.

Age 40-49 years old

• Monthly breast self examination.
• Yearly mammogram with or without ultrasound.

Ultrasound in addition to mammogram is useful if the breasts are lumpy or if the breast tissue is dense (as reported in the mammogram). Accuracy of mammogram is slightly lower in dense breasts. But ultrasound alone cannot replace mammography examination.

Age 50 years old and above

• Monthly breast self examination.
• 1-2 yearly mammogram with or without ultrasound.

If there are no risk factors such as family history, personal history of cancer / abnormal breast biopsy or use of hormone replacement therapy, then screening can be done 2 yearly. If there are risk factors, it would be prudent to continue with yearly checks. Ultrasound can be omitted if the breast tissue is no longer dense on mammogram.