In this process, the caregiver examines your breasts both by touch and by sight, checking for lumps and other symptoms. A clinical breast exam should be part of your routine checkup. You should have a clinical breast exam every year if you are over 40, every 3 years if you are under 40. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast which is useful in finding tumors at an early stage. Mammograms have been very successful in helping women identify cancer at the most treatable stages.
Regular mammograms are an important part of breast health care.
The Lynn Sage Breast Center recommends that you have your first mammogram at age 40, unless advised by your physician to begin screening at a younger age. In Screening Mammography , you will find more detailed information about mammograms, including information on scheduling a mammogram at the Lynn Sage Breast Center. All of the nationally recognized breast cancer organizations have established guidelines and recommendations for breast health care. The recommendations from the Lynn Sage Breast Center are listed below. For more detailed information on recommendations from major cancer organizations, please see the websites listed at the end of this page.