Mammograms: What to Expect, How to Prepare

Skipping regular mammograms after age 50 could double the risk of being diagnosed with latestage breast cancer. But catching breast cancer early makes it easier to treat successfully.

Research shows that women ages 50 to 64 who get mammograms at least every two years are 30 to 40 percent less likely to die from breast cancer than those who don’t get screened as often.

The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for women age 40 and older. The National Cancer Institute’s guidelines call for screening every one to two years for women in this age group. However, women who face an increased risk may need earlier or more frequent screenings. These women should discuss a screening schedule with their doctor. The American Cancer Society also reports that breast cancer death rates are dropping, probably the result of earlier diagnoses and improved treatment.

“We have made so much progress in imaging and diagnosis,” explains Salvatore Raccuia, M.D., a breast radiologist fellowship-trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and affiliated with Riverview Medical Center’s Women’s Center.

“And our methods and technology are consistently improving. This gives us the ability to make an early diagnosis, increasing our patient’s chance for cure and survival.”

Before your mammogram, expect to undress above the waist — you will be given a gown to wear. During the procedure, a special X-ray machine will push each breast between two panels before taking a picture. You will feel some pressure and maybe discomfort, but it lasts for only a few seconds. Usually, technologists take two pictures of each breast.

Take these steps before your mammogram:

• If you’re still menstruating, have mammograms the week after your period, when breasts generally are less tender.



• Don’t wear lotion, powder, perfume, or deodorant under your arms or on your breasts the day of the exam. These products can cause shadows on the X-rays.