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Get your mammogram

Once you reach a certain age, a screening mammography every 2 years can help find breast cancer before you've even noticed symptoms.
  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Find cancer early
  4. Get your mammogram

The importance of breast cancer screening and early detection 

Early detection is finding a precancerous condition or cancer at an early stage.

For most cancers, early detection and starting treatment at an early stage can help improve survival.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in Canada, with 1 in 8 estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

However, since 1986, the death rate of breast cancer has been cut in half through continued research and improved methods for early detection and treatments. Now, approximately 89% of women diagnosed with breast cancer can survive at least 5 years following a diagnosis. 

By getting screened for breast cancer, you can improve your chances of breast cancer being detected early, before symptoms even develop, when it’s easiest to treat.

Screening guidelines per province and territory  |  Get screened today

Why should you get a mammogram

  • Having a mammogram will give you peace of mind if the result is normal.
  • Most of those who have a mammogram will not have breast cancer.
  • Early detection of breast cancer may mean less treatment and less time spent recovering.
  • Most breast cancers are harmful and should be detected and treated as early as possible.
  • The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better your chance of survival.

How to get a mammogram

BEFORE

If you are between the ages of 40 and 74, you may be eligible for screening mammography, depending on the province or territory you live in.
You should be aware of the benefits and limitations of screening mammography based on age and risks to help decide if it’s right for you. Talk with your healthcare team to help make your decision. Because it’s so important to find cancer early, we believe the benefits of having regular mammograms for breast cancer outweigh the limitations.
If you decide that mammography is right for you, now what?
Once you’ve found the closest breast cancer screening location near you, make a screening appointment. 
Each province and territory have their own breast cancer screening program. To find out more about the program in your province or territory, please visit how do I find a breast screening program.

DURING

On the day of your screening appointment, arrive early at the screening location. Remember to wear a separate top and bottom since you’ll need to remove your clothing from your waist up. You should avoid wearing fragrance, antiperspirant, deodorant or body powder.
You’ll follow the female technologists into the screening room. Technologists should help to make you feel comfortable and ready for the test.
Mammography pictures (mammograms) show detailed images and views of the breast taken from different angles. When you have a mammogram, the breast is placed between 2 plastic plates. The plates are then pressed together to flatten the breast. This may be uncomfortable, but it lasts only a few seconds. Compressing the breast tissue helps make the images clearer while using as little radiation as possible.

AFTER

After a mammogram, you and your healthcare team will receive the results. There are 2 possible results after a mammogram:

Your results come back normal.
This means there are no signs of breast cancer and you won’t need another mammogram for 2 years, unless your healthcare team says differently.
Your results come back abnormal.

This means you’ll be called back for further testing. Contact your healthcare team to have a follow-up test if they haven’t contacted you already. It’s normal to be worried and stressed about this, but there can be many reasons why you might need further testing. In most cases, further testing confirms there is no breast cancer. Among those who are called back for further testing, many will have one or more diagnostic procedures. The majority will have a second mammogram (diagnostic mammogram), about half will have an ultrasound, and an even smaller group will have a biopsy (a procedure in which a tissue sample is taken for testing).

If you have any questions about which type of test you’ll be having and why, ask your healthcare team. If it is breast cancer, finding it early means treatment will likely work better.

For more information about having a mammogram please visit our page on mammography.
For more details and questions, call the Cancer Information Helpline

Our Cancer Information Helpline is a national, toll-free service for people with cancer and their caregivers, families, friends, as well as for the public and healthcare professionals.

  • Live chat with an information specialist.
  • Call us toll-free at 1-888-939-3333.
  • Fill out our online form. 

Screening guidelines by province or territory

Yukon Northwest Territories British Columbia Alberta Manitoba Saskatchewan Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador

Get screened today 

Frequently asked questions about mammograms
Some women find it uncomfortable, but the discomfort only lasts a few seconds.
You should have a mammogram every 2 years unless indicated otherwise by your screening program or healthcare team.
For more information on where to get screened, please visit how do I find a breast cancer screening program.
Read latest breast cancer statistics
In most cases, a female technologist will do your mammogram. You have the right to always request a female technologist when you go for your mammogram. You may not feel comfortable showing your breasts during the test, but it is important to do so to screen for breast cancer.

You can call the Canadian Cancer Society’s toll-free Cancer Information Helpline at 1-888-939-3333. Our free, confidential service is available Monday through Friday in English and in French, and we can provide interpretation services for other languages.

You can also live chat with an information specialist.

Fill out our online form.
Yes. A person can be accompanied during their appointment.
Yes. Please call the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Helpline at 1-888-939-3333 and someone can help you.

Depending on the screening program in your province or territory, you may be able to make an appointment without a referral (called a self-referral), or you may need your healthcare team to refer you to the program.

Not every province or territory offers mammograms through their organized program or by self-referral for people in their 40s. In that case, you may need to talk to your healthcare team about the best way to have a mammogram.

It’s important to know what your breasts look and feel like at every age. If you notice any changes, speak to your doctor.

We’re working with government to make sure that women and trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people at average risk have fair and timely access to breast cancer screening, no matter where they live. Find out more about what CCS is doing to improve access to breast cancer screening.

If you are 40 to 74 years old, have a mammogram every 2 years.

If you are 75 or older, talk to your healthcare provider about whether having a mammogram is right for you.

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