Mammograms do not detect all cases of breast cancer. It is very important that you perform regular breast self-exams and see your doctor regularly. This increases the chances of finding breast cancer at the earliest stage possible. There is also a slightly increased lifetime risk of cancer due to the radiation exposure involved with mammography. Your care team follows strict standards for X-ray techniques and will use the lowest amount of radiation possible to produce the best images. Your doctor will generally not order an X-ray if you are pregnant due to the danger of radiation to an unborn child. It is very important to tell your doctor if there is any chance of pregnancy.