Library of Frequently Asked Questions
The Mammogram Exam
Mammography (ma-mah-grah-fee) is a diagnostic test used to screen for breast cancer. It is very important in the early detection of breast cancer because it can find tumors and irregularities in the breast tissue while they are still too small to be felt by you or your doctor.
Mammography is a low-dose x-ray that takes an image of the inside of your breast. The exam usually takes about twenty minutes. Tumors detected by a mammogram may be benign or cancerous, and further tests and even removal of the tumor may be necessary before a definite diagnosis can be made.
Be sure to schedule your mammogram at least seven days after your last period started and two weeks before your next period is expected. This is a time when breasts will be least tender. The test is not painful, but some women experience minor discomfort. On the day of your mammogram, don’t use deodorant, perfume, or powder.
The American Medical Association recommends that women have a baseline mammogram by the age of forty and receive a mammogram every one to two years until age fifty. Women over fifty should have a mammogram every year. Because women who have a sister or mother with breast cancer are considered high risk, they may need a mammogram at a younger age or more often depending on family history.
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