What to Expect When You are Having a Mammogram

Having a mammogram may seem to be a scary or uncomfortable experience, especially if it is your first time and you do not know what to expect. You may be taking time off work or away from family to get a mammogram and may be concerned about the mammogram results. All of this may contribute to anxiety surrounding a mammogram. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after a mammogram is important to minimize these concerns.

Before scheduling or going for a mammogram, here are a few things you should know to prepare yourself:

• Try not to schedule your mammogram the week you get your period or during your period. While having your period will not affect the mammogram results, obtaining a mammogram during this time may cause more discomfort to your breasts as they may be more swollen or tender.
• You will need to undress from the waist up. Wearing a top instead of a dress may be more convenient and comfortable.
• Do not wear or apply antiperspirants, deodorant, perfume, powder, creams, or lotions under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the mammogram. Metallic particles in these products can appear as white spots on x-ray images and cause difficulty in interpreting the mammogram.
• If you have had a mammogram in the past, requesting and bringing any prior mammogram images for comparison may be helpful to the radiologist who will read the mammogram. It is worth noting that some facilities may already have your records on file if you had a mammogram done at the same place before.

When it is your turn to have the mammogram, you will be instructed to remove all neck jewelry and clothing from the waist up and change into a gown. You will be guided to stand in front of a mammography X-ray machine (shown below), and a nurse or healthcare provider will place one of your breasts on the machine's platform, raising or lowering the machine according to your height.

Your arms, torso, and head will be properly positioned and angled to ensure a clear and unobstructed image of your breast can be taken. Another plate above the positioned breast will be gradually lowered and will firmly press your breast to flatten it as much as possible. This is to hold the breast still and ensure that the x-rays can fully penetrate it to take a good image. During this process, you will feel pressure in your breast, which may cause some slight discomfort. Some women may feel some pain. However, it only lasts a few seconds before the breast is released. This process may be repeated to take different angles of the breast, depending on the situation and purpose of the mammogram. In standard screening mammography, a top and a side view are taken of each breast.

After the images are taken, you may be asked to wait in a holding area while the images are being checked for quality and validity. Your breasts may feel sore and tender after a mammogram, but it is only temporary and should go away within one or two days. Most women experience immediate relief right after they finish the mammogram procedure.

You may expect the results of the mammogram within a few days or weeks, depending on the facility. However, if there are concerns about your results, you may be contacted by a healthcare provider much earlier.

Depending on your results, the follow-up actions will vary. If your mammogram results are normal, no action is required, and you will be encouraged to continue with the regular screening mammograms once every one or two years, depending on your age and risk factors (you may want to talk with your doctor about how often to be screened). If your results are abnormal and show something suspicious or concerning to the radiologist, you may be called back to do additional tests. Depending on the situation, you may also be referred to a breast specialist or surgeon. While most abnormalities seen on the mammogram are benign (non-cancerous), additional tests and exams are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.