Breast cancer screening is about detecting cancer at an early stage, before there are any symptoms – or even worse, metastases. While this might not prevent the disease, it can help improve the chance of survival because a small, locally growing lesion is easier to treat than an invasive cancer.
Countries that offer organized nationwide, regional, or pilot screening programs.1
Screening programs: an international comparison
The difference between a screening mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram
Screening mammograms are acquired of healthy women who belong to a certain age group. Usually two X-ray images of each breast are taken. Diagnostic mammograms are used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other indication of breast cancer has been found. The same system can be used for both types of mammograms. Diagnostic mammography, however, can take longer to perform and the total dose level might be higher because more and/or different X-ray images like magnification views or tomosynthesis scans are needed to obtain views of the breast from several perspectives.3
