About breast screening - Reasons to attend breast screening
Taking part in screening is your choice. It is important that you understand the benefits and risks of screening to help you decide if taking part is right for you.
What are the benefits of breast screening?
Screening saves lives.
Screening can find breast cancer early before you can see or feel a change in your breast.
Finding breast cancer early gives you the best chance of survival.
Finding breast cancer early will usually mean less treatment is needed.
You may feel well even if you have early breast cancer.
What are the risks of breast screening?
Breast screening does not find all breast cancers.
Any x-ray involves radiation and can very rarely cause cancer, mammograms use a very low amount, about the same as a person receives when flying from Wales to Australia and back.
Some cancers will be missed and some will develop between screening. If you notice any changes or have any concerns in between your screening appointments, you should see your GP straightaway rather than waiting for your next routine screening appointment.
Women with possible abnormalities on their mammograms are asked to come back for more checks. Most of these women are found not to have cancer.
Screening might find a cancer that would not cause you harm. You will have to decide if you want treatment.
Breast screening can be embarrassing, feel a bit uncomfortable and may make you worry.
Does screening stop me from getting breast cancer?
No. Screening can only find cancer if it is already there.
You can get breast cancer at any time. It is important to speak to your doctor if you see or feel a change in your breast, even if you have recently been for breast screening.
How accurate is breast screening?
Breast x-rays are the best way of finding breast cancer early.
However, some cancers are very difficult to see on breast x-rays. They are not always seen by the person reading them. Some cancers cannot be seen at all.
All of the breast x-rays are looked at by at least two specialists.
Whatever your age, if you are worried about a breast change, please speak to your doctor, even if you have been for breast screening.
Things you need to know about breast cancer running in families
A small number of people are at more risk of having breast cancer because it runs in their family.
Most breast cancers do not run in families and do not increase the risk of other family members getting breast cancer.
Breast Test Wales works with the Genetics Service to offer breast screening to women who have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
If you are worried about breast cancer running in your family, please speak to your doctor or visit the the Genetics Service website.
If you are pregnant or breast feeding, we suggest that you speak to us before you have breast screening.
Why are some people invited for more tests?
About 4 in every 100 women are asked to come back for more tests after screening. This is because something has been seen on their breast x-ray. Most people who are called back for more tests do not have breast cancer.
If you are invited back for more tests, you will be sent more information about this.
If you are diagnosed with a breast cancer, finding it early gives you the best chance of successful treatment.
Page last reviewed: 21st February 2025