Mammogram Screening

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A screening mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast that finds changes before a lump can be felt. It is the main screening test for breast cancer. In Singapore, women aged 50 and above are advised to screen every two years, and women aged 40 to 49 yearly after discussing it with a doctor.

Screening looks for breast changes before there is anything to feel, when they are usually smaller and easier to treat. A mammogram is the test that does that work — a low-dose X-ray that picks up changes a hand cannot find. At Melanie Seah Breast Specialist in Singapore, Dr Melanie Seah, a Consultant Breast Surgeon, advises when to start, how often to return, and what the images show. This page covers who should screen and when, what happens on the day, what it costs, and what a recall actually means.

What is a mammogram screening?

A screening mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast, taken to look for early changes in women who have no symptoms at all. Each breast is briefly compressed between two plates and imaged from two angles, so overlapping tissue separates and small changes become visible.

What it is looking for is not only lumps. Mammography is the only widely used test that reliably shows microcalcifications — tiny mineral deposits that can be the earliest visible sign of a cancer, years before anything can be felt. A breast ultrasound generally cannot see them, which is why it supplements a mammogram rather than replacing one.

The word “screening” is doing real work in that sentence. A screening mammogram checks women with no symptoms; a diagnostic mammogram investigates something already noticed. If you have found a lump, that is the diagnostic route, and whether a breast lump is cancer is the better place to start. At Melanie Seah Breast Specialist in Singapore, Dr Melanie Seah, a Consultant Breast Surgeon, advises on both and reviews the images with you.

Who should have a mammogram, and how often?

From 50, once every two years. From 40 to 49, yearly, but only after discussing it with a doctor first. That is the Health Promotion Board’s guidance for women in Singapore who have no breast symptoms, and the reason for the split at 50 is that the balance of benefit against false alarms shifts with age.

WHORECOMMENDED INTERVALWHAT TO KNOW
Women 50 and aboveA screening mammogram once every two years.The standard national recommendation for women without

symptoms.

Women 40 to 49Yearly, after discussing it with a doctor.Benefits and limitations are weighed individually before starting at this age.
Higher personal or family riskMay start earlier, or screen more often.Decided after a risk assessment, sometimes alongside additional imaging.

A symptom changes the answer entirely. If you notice a new lump, a change in shape, or discharge between screenings, see a doctor then rather than waiting for the next mammogram — screening intervals are designed for women with nothing to report. Why breast cancer screening matters explains where the schedule comes from, and our services covers what follows if something is found.

mammograph-screening

What happens during a mammogram?

The appointment takes about fifteen to twenty minutes, and the imaging itself is a matter of seconds per view. There is nothing to arrange beforehand and no recovery time.

  • You undress to the waist, so a two-piece outfit is easier than a dress.
  • A radiographer positions one breast on the plate and lowers the compression paddle.
  • The image is taken and the compression releases immediately.
  • This repeats for a second angle, then for the other breast.
  • You dress and leave. The images are read afterwards, not while you wait.

At Melanie Seah Breast Specialist in Singapore, Dr Melanie Seah explains the results and any next steps.

How much does a mammogram cost in Singapore?

Under the national Screen for Life programme, a screening mammogram costs $50 for Singapore citizens and $75 for permanent residents at participating screening centres, with further subsidies for some groups. Citizens enrolled in Healthier SG pay nothing at participating polyclinics.

WHO YOU ARESCREEN FOR LIFE COST
Singapore citizen enrolled in Healthier SG$0
Pioneer Generation cardholder$25
Merdeka Generation cardholder$37.50
Singapore citizen, not enrolled in Healthier SG$50
Permanent resident$75

MediSave can be used for screening mammograms from age 50, including a spouse’s, parent’s or child’s account, so many women in that group pay nothing in cash. CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders are also eligible for subsidised screening at participating polyclinics.

These are the national programme rates and apply at participating Screen for Life centres and polyclinics rather than at a private specialist clinic. A mammogram arranged as part of a specialist consultation is charged separately — contact the clinic for current fees.

after-surgery

What happens if the mammogram finds something?

Most mammograms are normal, and being called back does not mean cancer. A recall means one area needs a closer look, and most of the time that look finds nothing serious.

The reason recalls are common is that a screening image is a first pass, not a verdict. Overlapping tissue, a cyst or a benign change can all produce something worth checking, and checking it is the point of the programme.

  • Extra mammogram views, to see the same area from a different angle
  • A breast ultrasound, to tell a fluid-filled cyst from a solid lump
  • A breast biopsy, if a solid finding needs a definite answer
  • Dr Melanie Seah explains what the finding means and arranges the next step

At Melanie Seah Breast Specialist in Singapore, further tests can usually be arranged quickly, which matters more than most things at this stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Screening usually starts at 40 in Singapore, but the recommendation differs either side of 50. The Health Promotion Board advises women aged 50 and above to have a screening mammogram once every two years, and women aged 40 to 49 to discuss annual screening with a doctor first, so the benefits and limitations can be weighed for them individually. Women with a strong family history, a known genetic risk or a previous breast cancer may be advised to begin earlier than 40, and sometimes with additional imaging. That decision follows a risk assessment rather than a rule. Dr Melanie Seah can review your history and advise when screening should begin for you.

Very little preparation is needed, but three small things make the appointment easier. Avoid deodorant, talcum powder and body lotion on the day, because the particles can show up on the images and be mistaken for calcifications. Wear a two-piece outfit, since you will undress only to the waist. If your breasts are usually tender before a period, book the mammogram for the week after one instead, when compression tends to feel more comfortable. Bring any previous mammogram images or reports with
you if you have them, including films taken at another centre. Comparing this year against last year is often what makes a small change visible at all.

Uncomfortable rather than painful, and it is over in seconds. Each breast is compressed between two plates while the image is taken, which most women describe as a firm squeeze and a feeling of pressure rather than pain. Compression is not optional: it spreads the tissue so that overlapping structures separate, which produces a clearer image at a lower radiation dose. The pressure is released as soon as the image is captured, and any tenderness usually settles the same day. If you are anxious about it, tell the radiographer before you start, and consider booking the week after a period when the breasts are less tender.

For routine screening, a mammogram. It is the test national screening guidance is built around, and the only one shown to pick up changes at a stage before anything can be felt. Ultrasound is an additional test rather than an alternative, added when there is a reason for it such as dense breast tissue or a specific finding. Our breast ultrasound page sets out when it is used.

Due for a mammogram?

Book breast screening with Dr Melanie Seah, Consultant Breast Surgeon in Singapore, to discuss when to start, how often to return, and which tests suit you.



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