For many women, scheduling an annual mammogram feels like just another item on an endless to-do list, but local health experts say this simple screening could be the most important appointment you make all year.

“If there is an abnormality, we are able to better find it when it's small, curable, treatable,” said Dr. Terri-Ann Gizienski, a diagnostic radiologist with UPMC Passavant. “So many women do well with breast cancer, but that's because we detect it early.”

The statistics tell a compelling story. One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their life. While that may seem like a small number, Dr. Matt Miller, a radiologist specializing in breast imaging at Allegheny Health Network, puts it in perspective.

“If you know eight women, you likely know someone who will develop breast cancer,” Miller said.

Mammography has been saving lives for decades. While the technology was created in the 1980s, the real push for widespread screening began in the early to mid-1990s. The results were dramatic.

“When that happened, the mortality rate of breast cancer globally was cut in half,” Miller said. “That’s a huge breakthrough.”

Today’s mammograms are more accurate and comfortable than ever before. The introduction of 3D mammography, or tomosynthesis, about 10 years ago marked a major advancement. This technology, now standard care at most facilities, allows doctors to detect two to four more cancers per 1,000 women screened while also reducing false positives.

“We were so fortunate to be one of the first systems to have the technology,” Gizienski said. “UPMC prioritizes women’s health.”

Both UPMC and AHN follow American College of Radiology guidelines that recommend women begin annual mammograms at age 40. Insurance typically covers screenings starting at this age.

“That’s what saves the most lives and every organization that collects data on this supports that 40 is the sweet spot,” Miller said.

For women with a family history of breast cancer, screening should begin even earlier. The recommendation is to start mammograms 10 years before the age at which your relative was diagnosed.

“Tumors don’t appear overnight. They take time to grow,” Gizienski explained. “Studies have found that the susceptibility and chance of finding a problem is greatest within that 10-year period.”

Women with genetic mutations like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 face the highest risk, added Miller. These patients should begin MRI screenings at age 25 and add mammograms at age 30.

Women without health insurance shouldn’t skip the annual screenings for fear of the cost. UPMC and AHN offer free or low-cost options for the uninsured.

Despite the proven benefits of mammography, misconceptions persist. One of the biggest myths is that women without a family history won’t develop breast cancer.

“Most women who are diagnosed have no family history,” Gizienski said.

Another common misconception is that you don’t need a mammogram if you can’t feel a lump. Miller calls this thinking dangerous.

“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said. “Mammograms detect cancer before it becomes symptomatic and is more treatable.”

When breast cancer is caught early through mammography, the cure rate can reach 99% success. The smaller the cancer, the easier it is to treat.

Many women also worry about radiation exposure from mammograms. Both doctors say this concern, while legitimate, is overblown.

“You get more radiation flying from the east to the west coast in a plane,” Gizienski said.

Miller agrees, noting that the radiation exposure from a mammogram is like a trans-Atlantic flight from Pennsylvania to Paris.

“The risk is real, but almost negligible,” he said. “We’ve never had a documented case of mammography-induced breast cancer.”

Anxiety about mammograms is normal, even for medical professionals.

“Even I still get anxious before a mammogram,” Gizienski admitted. “It’s a natural response.”

Both health systems have taken steps to reduce patient anxiety. UPMC offers same-day screening results at some locations, eliminating the stressful waiting period. Women can also self-schedule appointments, giving them more control over the process.

AHN is launching a new initiative to make mammograms more convenient. Starting Oct. 1, eight AHN locations will offer daily walk-in mammograms from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. The sites include Allegheny General Hospital, Jefferson Regional, West Penn and five breast centers throughout the region.

“We’re the only institution that I know offers this kind of permanent walk-in solution,” Miller said.

While mammograms do require breast compression to spread tissue and detect masses, the technology has improved significantly over the past 20 years to reduce discomfort.

Finding an abnormality doesn’t automatically mean cancer. In fact, the odds remain in your favor.

About 10% of women are called back for additional screening after their initial mammogram. Of those, only 2 to 3% might need a biopsy. Among women who undergo biopsies, 80% don’t have cancer.

“The chances of you getting diagnosed for breast cancer at your mammogram are very small,” Miller said. “The vast majority are negative.”

Common findings that aren’t cancer include cysts and calcifications. Sometimes overlapping tissue can create the appearance of an abnormality as well, Gizienski said.

When additional screening is needed, radiologists review the images the same day. Patients leave knowing whether they need further testing.

New technologies continue to improve breast cancer detection. Contrast-enhanced mammography helps doctors see breast tissue more clearly, especially in women with dense breasts. Artificial intelligence programs are beginning to help radiologists identify areas of concern and flag spots for future monitoring, as well.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year, the message from local health experts is clear.

“Go get your mammogram. Don’t be afraid,” Gizienski urged. “It’s better to get in there so if there is something, we can find it when it's small, when it’s curable.”

Miller sees the life-saving power of mammograms every week in his practice.

“A patient comes in, gets a mammogram, and we’ll find something that wasn’t there the year before,” he said. “We turn breast cancer into a speed bump and not a roadblock.”