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After breast cancer has gone away, you may still need to get mammograms to screen for recurrent breast cancer. The guidelines aren’t the same for everyone, so it’s important to discuss breast cancer screening with your doctor or oncologist. They can tell you if, when, and how often you should get mammograms after breast cancer treatment.
Some breast cancer survivors understandably feel a little uneasy about getting mammograms after surviving a previous breast cancer diagnosis. One MyBCTeam member opened up about these fears. “I have a mammogram coming up on Thursday, and I’m scared,” they said. Another agreed, “The “scan-xiety” after a breast cancer diagnosis is no joke!”
Just like mammograms before breast cancer, mammograms after breast cancer can help detect cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. Here’s what breast cancer survivors should know about mammogram screening guidelines after breast cancer.
Mammogram screening guidelines are similar across the board for people of normal risk for breast cancer who haven’t had breast cancer in the past. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends women aged 40 to 74 years old get mammogram screenings every two years.
USPSTF mammogram guidelines also state that women should weigh the risks and benefits of breast cancer screenings with their doctors. Your risk for breast cancer may be above average, in which case you might need to get mammograms more often than once every two years.
Doctors recommend that most breast cancer survivors continue getting mammograms after breast cancer treatment. You’ll need regular physical exams of the breast or chest area, but when and how often to get mammograms can vary based on a few different factors.
Your breast exams following breast cancer treatment will happen according to the following schedule:
Expect to continue getting mammograms if you still have breast tissue after breast cancer surgery. Your doctor will tell you whether or not you should get mammograms and how often you’ll need to schedule them.
How often you should get mammograms can change depending on several factors. Your doctor will consider the following when recommending mammograms and how often you should get them.
Perhaps the most important factor that determines whether you should get mammograms is the type of breast cancer surgery you had. The type of surgery you have affects how much, if any, breast tissue remains.
A lumpectomy removes only the cancerous lump from your breast, plus a small amount of healthy tissue around the lump. Doctors often recommend a mammogram of the treated breast about six months after radiation is finished (or on the timeline your care team suggests).
Your doctor will compare all future scans with the initial mammogram after a lumpectomy. You can expect to get mammograms of both breasts once a year moving forward.
A single or unilateral mastectomy removes the entire breast with cancer while keeping the other breast intact. After this surgery, doctors recommend getting annual mammograms on the remaining breast.
A double or bilateral mastectomy removes nearly all breast tissue from both sides, but a small amount of breast tissue can sometimes remain. In most cases, you won’t need routine screening mammograms after a double mastectomy. But your doctor may recommend imaging with ultrasound if there is breast tissue left or if you develop a new lump, skin change, or other concern.
A nipple-sparing mastectomy is breast removal surgery that keeps the nipple intact and in its approximate original place. After this surgery, a small amount of breast tissue may remain under or near the nipple. Some people may still be advised to get mammograms, but it depends on how much tissue is left and what your doctor recommends.
Some people choose to get breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy to restore their breasts’ appearance. After a mastectomy (with or without reconstruction), routine screening mammograms are usually not needed. But if you notice a new lump or change, your doctor may order diagnostic imaging. After a lumpectomy, you’ll usually keep getting regular mammograms of the breast tissue that remains.
Your risk of breast cancer recurrence can also influence your doctor’s recommendations about mastectomies. They might determine you have a higher risk of recurrence based on your breast cancer type, stage, or response to treatment.
If you’ve had a mastectomy but have a high risk of recurrent breast cancer (like triple-negative breast cancer), your doctor might advise you to get regular breast cancer screening tests using breast MRI or ultrasound imaging of the breast. These tests can help detect cancer in the skin or chest wall, even if very little or no breast tissue is left in the area.
Doctors encourage breast cancer survivors to continue getting screening mammograms after breast cancer treatment for important reasons. Your doctor will want to monitor your breasts for any changes that could indicate recurrent breast cancer to help with early-stage detection and prompt, effective treatment.
It’s normal to feel a little worried about what might come of these follow-up screenings. However, these screenings can be the key to finding and treating recurrent breast cancer early and getting the best possible outcome.
Your doctor can tell you about your individual risk and how mammograms will fit into your follow-up care. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice any symptoms or breast changes on your own.
Breast cancer survivors have candidly shared their thoughts about mammograms after breast cancer treatment on MyBCTeam. Members encourage and support each other as survivors, even though some may feel understandably worried.
“I’m still nervous about my next mammogram in six months,” shared one member. Another responded with words of encouragement, “Don’t think about it. It will take away any good thoughts and joy for the next few months. I know it’s hard not to worry, but women can’t live in fear of those ‘what ifs.’”
Another member shared similar feelings of apprehension around their first posttreatment mammogram. “I really struggled for months before the mammogram. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to be found.”
Other members have celebrated the relief they felt after their first posttreatment mammograms.
“I had my first mammogram since the diagnosis and treatment. No evidence of disease was found!” exclaimed a member.
Another member celebrated, “I had clear results from my mammogram, yay! This was my second one since I finished treatment for stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer. The other good news is that the mammogram didn’t hurt as much this time, lol.”
No matter how you feel about an upcoming posttreatment mammogram, it’s important to stay in touch with your doctor. Your breast cancer care team can tell you about your risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions for follow-up care, including mammograms or other breast imaging tests. They can tell you how often to schedule mammograms and will discuss your test results with you in detail.
On MyBCTeam, people share their experiences with breast cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
What advice can you share about getting a mammogram screening? Let others know in the comments below.
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