Two pictures are taken of each breast and the entire mammography exam takes approximately 15 minutes. Mammograms can detect tumors that are too small to feel, but are most curable. Every woman is at risk for breast cancer, and her risks increase with age. Three quarters of all breast cancers occur in women over 50. Women over 70 are twice as likely to develop the disease.
Survival depends on the stage of breast cancer at the time of diagnosis.
The survival rate is increased if the cancer has not spread. The five year survival rate for an early stage breast cancer is 97 percent, but drops to only 20 percent if the cancer has spread and is in late stages. This is why early detection is so important. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. Do a breast self-exam each month.