🧪 Are Mammograms Actually Causing Breast Cancer?

I know a breast cancer surgeon who is going viral on social media telling women that they should be very concerned about mammograms. Her argument is that the radiation from mammograms could actually cause breast cancer—and that newer technologies, such as QT imaging (which she profits from), may be safer alternatives.

I understand why this message is frightening.

And honestly, if mammograms were causing more cancer than they were preventing, I would want to know about it too.

Let’s get into what the science actually says.

First, mammograms aren’t perfect.

They can lead to false positives, additional imaging, and sometimes unnecessary biopsies. They’re also uncomfortable (some say painful) and also expose the breast to a small amount of radiation.

So yes—the risks are real.

But the important question is: How do those risks compare with the benefits?That is where the evidence becomes very important.

Mammograms can detect breast cancer at an extremely early stage, sometimes before there is a lump or any other symptom. They can also detect microcalcifications that may represent ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer.

And randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that screening mammography reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends screening every other year for women ages 40 through 74 at average risk. The American Cancer Society recommends a somewhat different schedule, beginning with the option of annual screening at 40 and recommending annual screening from 45 to 54.

What about the radiation?

This is where the numbers matter.

The radiation dose from a mammogram is small. It is not zero, and we shouldn’t pretend that it is. But it’s about the same amount of radiation that you would get if you take a cross-country round trip plane flight. And modeling studies suggest that the potential number of breast cancer deaths caused by screening radiation is dramatically smaller than the number of deaths potentially prevented through early detection.

That’s an important distinction.

And what about replacing mammograms with ultrasound, MRI, thermography, or other technologies?

Some of these technologies can be useful in addition to mammography, particularly for women with dense breasts or those at high risk. But newer does not automatically mean better, and they aren’t necessarily an equal alternative to mammography. Some simply don’t yet have the decades of data we have for mammography showing how they affect breast cancer mortality.

You don’t need to blindly trust mammograms. But you also shouldn’t abandon them because of frightening claims on social media. Claims that twist the truth in order to profit the person making those misleading claims. 

I understand mammograms can be very uncomfortable, and the risks of radiation exposure are real. Still, as a physician, I firmly believe (and the science supports) that screening mammography saves lives.

It could possibly save yours.

I dive much deeper into this topic, including explaining thermograms, MRI, QT imaging, and other screening tools, along with tips on lifestyle and dietary changes to prep for surgery on my latest podcast titled, Mammograms, Imaging, and Surgery: The Truth About Preparing Your Body & Protecting Your Health with Dr. Rebecca Knackstedt.

To listen on Apple devices, click HERE. To listen on Spotify, click HERE.