Getting a mammogram for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience. Being prepared and informed before this important cancer screening can make you feel less anxious.
If you are still menstruating, try to schedule your exam for the week after your period, when breasts are usually less tender and swollen. This will make your
mammogram
less painful and improve the quality of the images.
On the day of the appointment, don’t wear deodorant, powder or lotion. They may show up on the mammogram as white spots. You may want to schedule your exam early in the day and apply your toiletries afterward.
Since you’ll need to undress above the waist, plan to wear a two-piece outfit so you’ll only have to remove your top. The mammogram facility will give you a wrap to wear.
The technologist will physically handle your breasts to position them on the mammography machine’s plate. Many patients feel awkward about this, but being as relaxed as possible will help the positioning go smoothly and quickly.
To get the best-quality images, your breast will need to be compressed. The technologist will lower an upper plate to flatten the breast tissue while the X-ray is taken. A typical mammogram consists of four exposures (two different angles of each breast). The technologist may want to take a few additional shots to get a better view.
Having your breast flattened will be uncomfortable, but it’s important because it spreads the tissue thin, allowing the machine to get clear images. If you are truly in pain, be sure to speak up and let your technologist know. Fortunately, your breast will be compressed for only about 10-15 seconds for each exposure. The whole mammogram procedure takes about 20-30 minutes.
You will receive a letter reporting your mammogram results. Be aware that many women’s first mammograms find something that may seem abnormal, but often, this is just because the patient has no previous exam results for comparison. You may need a higher-resolution mammogram or an ultrasound to let your medical professionals get another look. Most frequently, the suspicious findings turn out to be cysts, dense tissue or a blur on the original image.
Chances are that everything is fine. Only two to five mammograms in 1,000 result in a breast cancer diagnosis. Whatever your results are, mammograms are an important part of taking control of your health. For more information about mammograms, contact NEON Health Services.
