Can I still have a mammogram if I have breast implants?
We were recently asked about breast implants and mammograms and in today’s blog we thought we’d address this.
A mammogram is an X-ray that is used during the breast screening process to detect breast cancer at a very early stage and hence aims to give women with breast cancer the best chance of survival. During a mammogram X-rays are passed through the breast in order to generate images (radiographs) of each breast. If a tumour, cyst or calcium deposits are present this will be detected as bright spots on the radiographs.
Image credit: Prague Beauty
When a woman has a breast implant (breast augmentation/ enlargement), the implant is inserted between her breast tissue and chest muscle or behind her chest muscle. The implant may make a mammogram less effective at detecting breast cancer as it prevents the X-rays from penetrating the tissue properly and hence distorts the image. This can be overcome by a slight modification in the way in which the mammogram is performed which will allow as much of the breast tissue as possible to be visualised by the x-ray.
If you are due for a mammogram and you have an implant please definitely attend your appointment but let the breast screening clinic know beforehand that you have an implant so they are prepared and can screen you appropriately.
If you have a breast implant because you have had a total mastectomy (i.e. both breasts removed) you won’t need a mammogram as all your breast tissue has been removed but following your breast cancer diagnosis and after treatment you will be monitored regularly. If you have had a mastectomy on just one side then you’ll need to have a mammogram of the breast that remains.
We hope this answers any questions you may have on this topic and if you have any more questions please do let us know by leaving a comment below.