--- title: "Radiation from Digital vs. Regular Mammogram | Sutter Health" description: "My mom died of breast cancer at the age of 55, so I've been getting mammograms since the age of 30. Is there a risk of radiation exposure from having regular mammograms? Should I be getting digital mammograms instead?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/radiation-from-digital-vs-regular-mammogram-1051061325" --- 1. Home / 2. Radiation from Digital vs. Regular Mammogram # Radiation from Digital vs. Regular Mammogram * * * Medically reviewed by - Michael R. Forrest, M.D. ## Question My mom died of breast cancer at the age of 55, so I've been getting mammograms since the age of 30. Is there a risk of radiation exposure from having regular mammograms? Should I be getting digital mammograms instead? ## Answer Digital mammograms do seem to improve the cancer detection rate in younger women with dense breasts. The radiation dose is not necessarily lower, but images can be manipulated to overcome some of the problem related to density, are easily compared annually, and CAD--Computer Aided Detection—software can be used. So, yes you should be getting digital mammograms at an ACR-accredited facility. Unfortunately, there is no good evidence that additional screening tests such as ultrasound, MRI, or digital tomosynthesis improves detection rates, except in very high risk women. And speaking of risk, if your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at or before age 45 (or had two cancers), or you have another maternal relative with breast cancer, or a relative with ovarian cancer, you should be referred to a genetics counselor. She can provide further risk assessment and, if needed, may suggest risk reduction strategies. ## Explore related topics Breast CancerCheck-Ups and ScreeningsCancer ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Breast cancer runs in my family (mother). Should I get a mammogram earlier than 40? - Health Q&A ### Mammogram Screening for Breast Cancer Survivors How often should I have a mammogram? I am 77 years old and had breast cancer, and my mother died of breast cancer. - Health Q&A ### Additional Views During a Mammogram I had breast cancer 10 years ago. I had chemo and radiation. I've had mammograms every year since. What does it mean when additional pictures are needed because of denseness? What is the cause, and what is the chance it's a reoccurrance of cancer? - Health Q&A ### Benign vs. Cancerous Breast Lumps What does a breast cancer lump feel like? 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