Frequently Asked Questions

According to the CEWG recommendation, women at high risk of breast cancer are advised to begin screening at age 35 or 10 years prior to the age at diagnosis of their youngest relative affected by breast or ovarian cancer, whichever is earlier, but not earlier than age 30.

For example, for a woman who is confirmed to be a carrier of certain gene mutations, and her youngest affected relative was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40, she may begin screening at age 30, which is 10 years before her relative’s age of diagnosis.

Most of the time, early stage breast cancer does not cause noticeable symptom. Therefore, regular breast cancer screening is necessary regardless of symptom. In addition, all women should be familiar with the normal look and feel of their breasts at all times.

This Programme does not accept results from DTC genetic testing products or services that consumers can purchase directly over the counter or online (i.e. the entire process from publicity, marketing to delivery is done directly by the service provider to the consumers without involving healthcare professionals) as proof of genetic mutation carrier status. Only genetic testing reports issued by medical laboratories or referral letters from medical practitioners will be considered valid for participation in the Programme.

Breast cancer is one of the most common invasive cancers diagnosed during pregnancy. Existing evidence suggests that high-risk women could consider breast cancer screening during pregnancy or lactation, although it can be challenging due to physiological and structural breast changes, and the need to balance both maternal and fetal well-being. Depending on your clinical condition, breast cancer risk, expected period of pregnancy and lactation, and previous screening records, your doctors will provide personalised recommendations regarding your screening schedule. If you have any doubts or concerns, please consult your doctor for advice.

Mammography is a widely used screening tool for breast cancer. It is generally safe and involves a very low dose of radiation – approximately 0.21mSv for a single screening mammography. According to the American College of Radiology, this level of radiation is comparable to about 26 days of natural background radiation, or taking around four long-haul flights. Despite the radiation risk, evidence shows that mammography screening promotes the early detection of breast cancer and improves patient’s chance of survival. Therefore, the benefits of receiving mammography screening significantly outweigh the risk. If you have any questions or concerns regarding breast cancer screening, please consult your doctor.

You may be called back for additional mammogram and/or ultrasound following your initial mammogram due to reasons such as unclear results (e.g. due to dense breast tissue) or the presence of suspicious areas. These additional imaging tests allow radiologists to examine the areas of concern more closely and thoroughly. It is not uncommon to receive a call-back after mammography screening, and it does not necessarily indicate a diagnosis of breast cancer.

According to CEWG recommendation, women at high risk of breast cancer are recommended to receive mammography screening every year. For women with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, they should also consider additional annual screening by magnetic resonance imaging.

All screening tests have limitation and are not 100% accurate. Even if your previous breast cancer screening result is normal, you should receive regular screening and be breast aware at all times. You should consult a doctor promptly if you notice any unusual breast changes.

An abnormal mammogram or ultrasound result may indicate breast changes, which can be benign or malignant, and be attributed to a number of other conditions apart from breast cancer (e.g. calcification, cyst). For abnormal findings, further investigation (e.g. biopsy) is required to confirm diagnosis.

Breast cancer may develop between screenings. This can occur due to fast-growing cancers which develop rapidly between screenings, or when abnormal breast changes were missed in previous screening (i.e. false-negative results). To facilitate early detection of breast cancer, it is therefore important for women to receive regular screening and be breast aware at all times. You should consult a doctor promptly if you notice any unusual breast changes.

To ensure continuity of care and consistency in result interpretation, participants are not allowed to change their service provider within a single screening round.

Health Care Voucher cannot be used to settle the co-payment.

If participants are referred to other medical institutions for further investigation or management, the cost incurred from these services will not be subsidised under the Programme.

Being registered with the eHRSS is required for participating in the Programme. The IT system of the Programme is a platform built under the eHRSS. Therefore, if you withdraw from the eHRSS, you will automatically be withdrawn from the Programme. This means that your service provider will no longer be able to view your records and provide clinical care, and you will be at risk of missing significant screening results.