Can I undergo the ultrasound breast instead of mammogram for breast cancer screening?
A mammogram is the preferred procedure when performing breast cancer screening for a women above 40 years old. It is different from an ultrasound as mammograms look for calcifications (especially microcalcifications) which may be indicative of early breast cancer. Ultrasound of the breast can only detect breast cancer if there is a large enough sized growth in the breast tissue. A lot of women fear mammograms due to pain and radiation. However, it is important to note that with better technological advancements, newer models of mammogram machines are more sensitive and hence, less pain and radiation is practically felt during the process.