Mammograms

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Screening mammography usually involves two views, or X-ray pictures, of each breast. The screening can detect breast lumps and changes in breast tissue that may develop into problems over time.

Mammograms also find lumps or growths that are too small for you or your health care provider to feel when conducting a physical breast exam.

If you have breast implants, you may need to have more pictures made to include as much of the breast tissue as possible.

You can get a mammogram even if you’re breast-feeding. All you have to do is express your breast milk before the test.

If the doctor does find a lump, he or she will then determine if it is benign, which means the lump is not cancerous, or malignant, which means it is cancer.

Get Ready…For Your Mammogram

Here’s what you’ll need to do to prepare for your mammogram:

• Make your appointment for 1 week after your period. Your breasts hurt less after your period.
• Wear a shirt with shorts, pants or a skirt. This will allow you to undress from the waist up and leave your shorts, pants or skirt on when you get your mammogram.
• To keep from interfering with the quality of the mammogram, don’t wear any of the following on the day of your appointment:
  • Deodorant
  • Perfume
  • Lotion
  • Powder

During the Mammogram…

• You’ll stand in front of the machine.
• The woman taking the X-rays will place your breast (one at a time) between two plastic plates.
• The plates press your breast to make it flat. The flatter your breast, the better the picture.
• You will feel pressure on your breast for a few seconds.
• You will feel some discomfort, but you should not feel pain. If you do, tell the technician.
• The entire exam lasts only a few minutes.

You might be wondering about how often you need to go through this discomfort. Well, that depends on how old you are and what your health is like.

If you are over 40 years old, then you need a mammogram every year. You also need a mammogram once a year if you:

• Are younger than 40 and have breast cancer or breast problems, or
• Have a family history of breast cancer.

All mammography facilities are now required to send your results to you within 30 days. If there is a problem with the mammogram, you will be contacted within 5 working days. However, if you do not hear from your doctor within 10 days, do not assume that your mammogram was normal. Call your doctor or the clinic to make sure.

Next: Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)