Have No Fear: What to Expect During a Mammogram
Froedtert & MCW experts share what individuals can expect during a mammogram and why this screening and early detection are so important. Have no fear, schedule your screening mammogram today.
Every day, women walk through these doors with questions on their minds.
- Will it hurt?
- Will they find something?
- Am I going to be okay?
It is normal to feel a little nervous about having a mammogram. It's important to remember that most women who have breast cancer do not yet have symptoms. You can feel healthy and strong and be doing everything right for your health and still have breast cancer.
We know that some women delay getting their mammograms due to fears of discomfort or fears of what may be found. We understand those concerns, and we want to work with women to make them feel comfortable.
What to Expect During the Mammogram
In the video, the technician explains what she is doing during the mammogram: "I'm going to have you come around here, and we're just going to go right in this room here. I'm going to be doing some pictures with you facing the machine and then some side pictures. I am going to be placing your breast on this plate and this compression paddle will come down and hold it into place. The reason why we use compression is one is for motion so we get clear images and the second one is for spreading out the breast tissue so the radiologist can see everything that they need to see on your mammogram today."
The compression only lasts a few moments, and most women say it feels more like pressure. Most women say that the mammogram is better than they thought it would be. It's also important to remember that a woman is in control of the mammogram. The mammography technologist will be checking in throughout the exam and will only use as much compression as what a woman can tolerate. She will then obtain very high-quality mammogram images with the woman's comfort in mind, and then the images will be passed off to a team of specialized breast imaging physicians who will expertly interpret the images.
Reviewing the Images, What We Are Looking for in a Mammorgram
What we're looking for on a mammogram is any change from last year. If a woman has had a prior mammogram, that's very helpful because any change on the mammogram could potentially be breast cancer. For example, when I'm looking at the mammogram from this year in the right breast, I do see an area that looks like a little bit more of a white spot than it was last year. Once my attention is drawn to an area based on any change from last year, I will go through and look at the 3D mammogram images.
Breast cancer can show up as a developing white spot. This draws attention. It can show up as a mass. It can show up as a grouping of calcium deposits. It can show up as an area of tethering or puckering in the breast tissue and many other ways. But the important thing is that we're always looking for change.
Your First Mammogram
Women who are having their first mammogram have a higher chance of needing to come back because we're still trying to figure out what their normal is. We don't have any comparison images to know if something's been stable for a long time. Having those comparison mammograms is very helpful.
What if We Find Something on Your Mammogram
The reality is nine out of 10 women get good news after their screening mammogram.
One out of 10 women get called back for a closer look. Most of those women get good news as well after we do diagnostic imaging.
When to Start Mammograms
We save the most lives from breast cancer when women start screening at age 40 and have a mammogram every year. There are some women, though, who are at higher than average risk. Those women may actually need to start earlier than age 40. It really depends on a woman's family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis Saves Lives
It really depends on early diagnosis. Since 1990, there has been a 40% decrease in breast cancer deaths, in large part due to screening mammograms. It has been proven that women who have regular mammograms are much more likely to survive breast cancer. A mammogram only takes a few minutes, but in those minutes we obtain powerful information that can be life-saving.
So make an appointment, come in, have no fear.
Schedule Your Mammogram Online
Created in collaboration by the Froedtert & MCW health network and the Milwaukee Bucks.
