Free patient tool

When should I get a mammogram?

Answer a few questions to see when to get a mammogram and how often, based on a published screening guideline. If you have a breast symptom, the planner will tell you to see a doctor rather than wait.

Nothing you enter here is saved or sent. No cookies, no storage of your answers, no network calls: it all stays in your browser.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Akanksha Bajpai on 12 November 2026

Plan your screening

Your age (years)

Do you have any of these now? A new lump or thickening in the breast Nipple discharge (fluid or blood) without squeezing A change in the skin or nipple (dimpling, redness, a nipple turning in) New pain in one spot that does not go away A lump or swelling in the armpit None of these

Your history Mother, sister or daughter with breast or ovarian cancer, or a known BRCA gene change in the family Radiation treatment to the chest before age 30 An earlier report said my breasts are dense

Month of your last mammogram (leave empty if never)

How the planner decides

Any breast symptom, at any age, means: see a doctor soon. The planner never tells someone with a symptom to wait.
With no symptoms and average risk, a screening mammogram is suggested every 12 months from age 40.
A close family history of breast or ovarian cancer, a BRCA gene change in the family, or chest radiation before 30 can mean a higher risk: a breast specialist should advise, and screening may start earlier.
Dense breasts can hide changes on a mammogram, so a breast ultrasound may be added.

Guideline values used: American College of Radiology (ACR) breast cancer screening recommendations, 2023 update. Average risk: every 12 months from age 40. These values are set by the centre’s doctors.

Mammography: when and how often

At what age should I start getting mammograms?

For women at average risk, the guideline used here suggests a yearly screening mammogram from age 40. Women at higher risk may need to start earlier, as a breast specialist advises.

I have a lump but my last mammogram was normal. Can I wait?

No. Any new lump or breast change should be checked by a doctor soon, even after a normal mammogram.

I am under 30 and have a breast symptom. Do I need a mammogram?

Under 30, a breast ultrasound is usually the first test. The breast radiologist decides after examining you.

What does dense breast tissue mean?

Dense breasts have more gland and support tissue than fat. It is common and normal, but it can hide changes on a mammogram, so a breast ultrasound is sometimes added.

Is this planner a diagnosis?

No. It gives general information from a published guideline. Your doctor may advise differently for you.