Mammograms are one of the most important tools doctors have in breast cancer prevention and early detection.

Recommendations for when you should schedule your mammogram depend on a variety of factors, including age and increased risk.

• Mammograms are recommended annually for women age 40-54.
• Women 55 and older can switch to mammograms every 2 years, or continue yearly screenings.
• In some cases, screening recommendations begin at an earlier age. If you have an increased risk for breast cancer, we recommend regular screenings. Your health care provider can help identify if you’re at an increased risk.
• You may choose to have a screening earlier and/or more often if you feel the benefit outweighs the potential concern.

Providence utilizes digital mammography, which provides clearer, more accurate X-ray images. This means shorter examination times, quicker results, more convenience and less anxiety for you.

• Before scheduling a mammogram, please speak with your doctor about any recent problems or abnormalities concerning your breasts.
• If you’ve had previous mammograms, make them available to the radiologist. It’s helpful for the radiologist to compare previous images with the new ones.
• Don’t schedule your mammogram the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time is one week after your period.
• Always inform your doctor or radiology technician if there’s a possibility that you’re pregnant.
• Don’t wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms on the day of your mammogram. These can appear as calcium spots on X-rays.

Before the examination, you’ll be given a hospital gown or a loose-fitting drape that opens in the front. You’ll be asked to remove all jewelry and clothing above the waist.

A radiologic technologist will position you at the mammography unit to image each breast. The breast will be placed on a firm, flat X-ray surface and compressed with firm, gentle pressure from the mammography device. The compression causes discomfort for some women, but most find it to be painless.

Breast compression is necessary to:

• Allow the use of a lower X-ray dose
• Create a sharper picture · Hold the breast still, eliminating blurring of the image
• Spread out the breast thickness so that all tissue can be visualized
• Spread out the tissue so that small abnormalities won’t be obscured

While the breast is compressed, the radiologic technologist will take an X-ray, helping you change positions slightly between images. Generally, mammograms include a top-to-bottom view and a side view of the breast tissue. The process is repeated for each breast.

The examination process for a mammogram generally takes about 20 minutes.

When the exam is complete, you'll be asked to wait until the technologist evaluates the images to determine if more images are needed. If an image is unclear or if a finding seems suspicious, the radiologist may recommend further diagnostic studies.

If you were referred by another doctor or primary care provider, we’re happy to send a copy of your mammogram to them.

In the very earliest stages, breast cancer has no outward symptoms. Sometimes the earliest sign is a tiny lump, or mass, that’s only detectable on a mammogram. As the disease progresses, however, more noticeable changes might appear. These can vary widely – while a lump is the most common symptom, it’s by no means the only one.

Any of the following changes could be a warning sign of breast cancer:

• Bloody nipple discharge or unilateral discharge other than breast milk
• Dimpling, puckering, irritation or scaliness of the breast skin or nipple
• Lump in the breast or armpit area
• Nipple that turns inward, flattens out, pulls to one side or changes direction
• Pain or tenderness in the breast or nipple
• Swelling in all or part of the breast
• Thickening or redness of the breast skin

These symptoms may be signs of breast cancer in men as well as women.

If you notice a potential symptom of breast cancer, or if you’re concerned about any changes in the way one of your breasts looks or feels, please call your primary care provider or a breast care specialist.

While these symptoms don’t always indicate cancer and can sometimes be signs of something less serious, such as a cyst or an infection, it’s important to have a physician evaluate them right away. Don’t wait to see if they go away on their own.

Treating breast cancer successfully is much easier when it’s caught and treated early.