ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO HAVING A MAMMOGRAM? ARE THE X-RAYS TAKEN DURING A MAMMOGRAM DANGEROUS?

Mammography is a special tool that uses X-rays to take x-rays of the breast.

Mammography is a specialized instrument that uses X-rays to take images of the breast. A total of four images are taken in two different positions. The dose of a standard mammogram is negligibly low, and the radiation dose in digital mammography devices is even lower than in analog systems. Because mammography is an examination that uses ionizing radiation, there is a theoretical risk of triggering cancer. Approximately one in a million mammograms triggers one cancer, while approximately one in every hundred mammograms is detected. This calculation calculates the benefits to be 10,000 times the harm.

The life-shortening effect of the radiation dose received from mammography, compared to other methods commonly encountered in modern civilization, is:

The probability of dying from lung cancer due to smoking is 1/2 the probability of dying from breast cancer from a screening mammogram.
The probability of dying from a plane crash during a 30-minute flight is equal to the probability of dying from breast cancer from a screening mammogram. The probability of dying from a car accident during a 30-minute drive is equal to the probability of dying from breast cancer after a screening mammogram.

Comparative studies conducted during the early days of mammography demonstrated the life-extending effect of mammography. In other words, the group that underwent mammography experienced both its benefits and harms, while the group that did not underwent mammography remained free from both its benefits and harms. Finally, the lifespan of the group that underwent mammography was shown to be longer.

In a study conducted in the US, 1,000 mammography technicians were monitored for 10 years, and no increase in breast cancer was observed in this group.