Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
Chat live online
Select the Live Chat button at the bottom of the page
Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
- Referrals to patient-related programs or resources
- Donations, website, or event-related assistance
- Tobacco-related topics
- Volunteer opportunities
- Cancer Information
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
- Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change
- Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors
- Factors with Unclear Effects on Breast Cancer Risk
- Disproven or Controversial Breast Cancer Risk Factors
- Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer?
- Genetic Counseling and Testing for Breast Cancer Risk
- Deciding Whether to Use Medicine to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
- Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk
- Aromatase Inhibitors for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk
- Preventive Surgery to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
- American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer
- Mammogram Basics
- Tips for Getting a Mammogram
- What Does the Doctor Look for on a Mammogram?
- Getting Called Back After a Mammogram
- Understanding Your Mammogram Report
- Breast Density and Your Mammogram Report
- Limitations of Mammograms
- Mammograms After Breast Cancer Surgery
- Mammograms for Women with Breast Implants
- Breast Ultrasound
- Breast MRI
- Newer and Experimental Breast Imaging Tests
- Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
- Finding Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
- Breast Cancer Grades
- Breast Cancer Ploidy and Cell Proliferation
- Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status
- Breast Cancer HER2 Status
- Breast Cancer Gene Expression Tests
- Other Breast Cancer Gene, Protein, and Blood Tests
- Imaging Tests to Find Out if Breast Cancer Has Spread
- Breast Cancer Stages
- Breast Cancer Survival Rates
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Breast Cancer
- If You Have Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Videos
- Breast Cancer Quiz
- Frequently Asked Questions About the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Screening Guideline
Mammograms
Mammograms are low-dose x-rays that can help find breast cancer. If you've been told you need a mammogram, or you're ready to start breast cancer screening, the topics below can help you know what to expect.
Getting a mammogram
Find out what a mammogram is, why it's done, what doctors look for, and what it's like to get one.
Understanding your results
Doctors use a standard system called the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) to describe what they see on a mammogram. Learn how to understand your results, and what it means if your mammograms show dense breast tissue.
Mammograms in special circumstances
If you have had breast cancer in the past, whether or not you need to keep getting mammograms might depend on the type of surgery you had.
If you have breast implants, you can and should get mammograms as recommended. But you might need to have extra pictures taken so the doctor can see as much breast tissue as possible.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: January 14, 2022
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.