Breast Cancer Screening Exams

How often you should get tested for breast cancer depends on your chances for getting the disease.

Having one or more risks for breast cancer does not mean you will definitely get the disease. It means that you may be more likely to get breast cancer. If you are at increased risk for breast cancer, you may need to start screening exams at an earlier age, get additional tests or be tested more often. Look at the lists below to find out if you are at average or increased risk for breast cancer.

Increased Risk

Women at increased risk have a higher chance of getting breast cancer than women at average risk. Women at increased risk include those who have a:

History of radiation treatment to the chest
Genetic mutations, including an abnormality in the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genes, Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, CDH1, Cowden's Syndrome or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome
History of Lobular Carcinoma in Situ
Five-year risk of breast cancer 1.7% or greater at age 35 or older, as defined by a Gail Model calculation. Calculate your risk using the Gail Model
A life-time risk of breast cancer 20% or greater, as defined by models dependent on family history. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer should consider speaking with a genetic counselor to learn more about these models and have their risk determined.

See screening guidelines for women at increased risk.