I am 53 years old and have not had a mammogram in about 15 years. am i putting myself at great risk? i am 53 years old and have not had a mammogram in about 15 years. am i putting myself at great risk?

You : You should definitely see a gyn doctor for a check up and get a mammogram. Ideally you want to do this annually. Most breast cancers are curable when detected early so yes i recommend getting screened. It's not a fun test to get I have heard but it can make a world of a difference.

This : This depends on your family history. Are you doing self breast-exams? Do you have a gynecologist you see regularly who does exams? Is there breast cancer in your family? In general, we recommend getting mammograms yearly after age 50, so try to make an appt soon. Hope this helps.

Risk: Is there a reason you haven't gotten a mammo in 15 years? Was the last one too painful? Your risk is that if you happen to get breast cancer, without mammography it may potentially be diagnosed at a more advanced, and less curable, stage. I would urge you to try again, or if you are adamant about not getting a mammo, talk to your doctor about possible screening ultrasounds.