As a result, mammography is less sensitive in women with thick breasts, increasing the likelihood of cancer detection. Those with dense breasts are more likely to be called back for follow-up testing than women with fatty breasts. Dense breasts can also increase a woman's chance of developing breast cancer later in life. However, mammograms still provide significant protection against dying from breast cancer. Mammograms are images of the breast tissue taken from different angles with radiation. The goal is to find tumors or other problems before they cause pain or other symptoms. Screening mammograms are done annually after age 40 to catch early signs of cancer. Follow-up mammograms are sometimes needed after treatment for breast cancer. These pictures are often used along with clinical information to help determine whether further tests are needed and what changes may require making to your routine screening schedule. Mammograms are very effective at finding tumors that have not yet changed size or location within the body. They can also reveal changes in the breast tissue that may indicate increased risk for cancer. For these reasons, mammograms should be part of a comprehensive breast health program that includes questions about family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast diseases such as benign tumors, menstrual history, use of hormone therapy, and alcohol consumption. Women with dense breasts may need additional imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI to improve sensitivity for detecting cancers. Radiation exposure is a concern with any image-based test.