A mammogram is the best method for early detection of breast cancer, making it one of the most important medical tests a woman can have. Knowledge of how the process works and what can be done to prepare for a mammogram can help make the test less uncomfortable and the results more accurate and understandable.
Instructions
Understand Your Next Mammogram
1. Before having a mammogram, you should make sure your doctor has the following information: your family history regarding breast cancer, your general medical history and whether you are menstruating, taking hormones, are pregnant or nursing or have begun menopause.
2. Don't wear talcum powder, lotion, or deodorant on the day of your mammogram. They could be mistaken for calcium spots and cause the test results to be less accurate.
3. The entire visit should take about 30 minutes. After you leave, a radiologist will analyze the images and send a report to your doctor, who will discuss the results with you. The facility will also send you the results of your mammogram in "easy-to-understand" language. If calcifications, masses, lumps, distortions, or new areas of density are noted, your doctor may recommend that you undergo further testing.
4. If your mammogram reveals calcium deposits, or calcifications, as is the case with about one in three women, they are generally benign and your doctor will probably recommend a wait-and-see approach. If large, round calcifications are present in your breast tissue, further testing may be warranted.
5. If your mammogram shows that you have dense breast tissue, traditional mammograms may not be as effective in helping your doctor spot potential problems, because fat appears dark on most mammograms, dense breast tissue appears light, and most tumors appear as solid white masses, making them harder to detect. If you have dense breasts, your doctor may recommend digital mammograms, which produce detailed images on a computer screen.
6. Although the word tumor means cancer to many people, most breast tumors are benign, showing up on mammograms as white spots with smooth edges. The size, shape, and edges of a mass often indicate whether it is cancerous. If your doctor feels it is necessary, he may order a biopsy for diagnosis.
Tags: your doctor, your mammogram, breast tissue, breast cancer, dense breast
