When it comes to beating breast cancer, early detection is everything—and annual screening mammograms are still the most powerful tool available.

“Screening mammograms save lives by finding cancer while it’s still small and often before a lump can be felt,” says Dr. Amber Faast, a breast imaging specialist at Central Oregon Radiology Associates (CORA).

When to Start—and Why It Matters

Annual mammograms are recommended starting at age 40, and continuing every year after. Women with a strong family history or certain genetic risk factors may qualify for earlier or more frequent screening.

For women at higher risk, additional tools like breast MRI or ultrasound may be recommended alongside mammograms to increase the chance of early detection.

What a Callback Really Means

If you’ve ever been called back after a routine screening, you’re not alone—and it doesn’t necessarily mean something’s wrong.

“A callback just means we need a closer look,” says Dr. Faast. “It could be overlapping tissue, a benign finding, or something we want to investigate further.”

In these cases, additional images—such as diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, or even breast MRIs—can provide clarity. MRIs are especially useful for high-risk patients or when dense breast tissue makes detection more difficult.

“On a mammogram, dense tissue and cancer both appear white, which makes spotting abnormalities more challenging—like trying to find a white marble in a glass of milk,” Dr. Faast explains. “MRI gives us functional data by highlighting where blood flow is going in the breast.”

Mammogram Myths: Busted

Many women delay screening because of common misconceptions:

• Myth: Mammograms expose you to high levels of radiation.
  Fact: “The amount of radiation from a mammogram is extremely low,” says Dr. Faast. “It’s less than what you’d get flying cross-country or from living at elevation.”
• Myth: Mammograms take a long time.
  Fact: Most screening mammograms take less than 10 minutes from start to finish.

Can You Schedule Without a Referral?

Absolutely. Patients can self-schedule their annual screening mammogram online or by scanning a QR code from CORA’s materials—no referral needed.

If it’s been a year or longer since your last screening—or if you’ve never had one—it’s never too late to start.