A mammogram is an X-ray impression of breasts. Women imaging specialists widely use this technique to screen any tumorous cells in the breast. For instance, most physicians recommend getting a mammogram to examine symptoms or any abnormal findings in any other diagnostic or imaging tests.
Breast cancer is quite common in post-40 females. However, men are not safe from the risk of being infected by this fatal medical condition. According to research, 1% of every 100 males are at risk of getting infected with the growth and development of breast cancer. Symptoms may vary accordingly.
The mammogram uses two compression plates for diagnosis. The technician asks the patient to press the breast against these plates. However, this helps the breast tissues spread out. Later, using the x-rays, the impressions of the breast appear on the computer screen. The image has black or white coloration, indicating various tumor signs respectively.
A lot of women feel nervous or anxious prior to conducting a mammogram. However, if they are prepared beforehand by providing enough information, it can help them soothe their nerves. If you are unsure how to prepare for a mammogram, these tips will help carry on your preparation for a mammogram.
Book The Right Appointment Slot For Your Mammogram
There is no such rule to make an appointment for your mammogram at any specific time. However, it would help if you planned to get an appointment when the breasts are less tender.
To begin with, the experts recommend you must consider booking your appointment on post-menstruation days. The main reason here is due to breast tenderness. However, it is better to book an appointment during the menstruation phase or a week before you actually start menstruating.
Additionally, you must properly wash your underarms, chest, neck, and arms to eliminate any beauty products. Also, no moisturizer, deodorant, or creams are acceptable. It is because these products contain certain ingredients that might affect your overall screening results.
Acknowledge Your Insurance Coverage
Mostly, screening mammograms of breast cancer at diagnostic centers for women are 100 percent covered by insurance. However, if you do not have insurance coverage, keep in mind that for mammograms, you might be eligible for a low or no-cost screening by the National Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).
If you are less than 40 years of age and are concerned about being at risk of developing breast cancer, then it would be wise for you to talk to them regarding your concerns. However, if you are 40 years old or older, your doctor has probably already talked to you about conducting your 1st screening mammogram.
Pain Killers Can Surely Help
A lot of people worry about whether mammograms hurt or not. It is surprising one of the most frequently asked mammogram queries. As a matter of fact, usually, people do not find this entire process to be painful. However, if you are frightened by the thought of feeling any kind of pain during your mammogram, or if your chest is feeling tender prior to your screening, then it certainly will not harm to take over-the-counter pain medicine to relieve your mind.
Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Advil) is completely safe. Remember to take your pain medicines about an hour before your mammogram screening to help you feel relaxed throughout your screening.
Remove Any Beauty Products From Your Arms & Chest.
Using X-rays during a mammogram screening helps the examiner analyze the histological condition of the patient’s breast. However, unfortunately, a lot of beauty products become visible on mammogram impressions. These unusual marks of beauty products might lead to inaccurate results.
Therefore, we urge you to remove any beauty products from your chest and arms before you go for a mammogram screening. Many clinics also offer wipes to free your breasts and arms of any beauty products, just in case you forget to remove them earlier.
During your preparation for a mammogram, keep in mind to avoid using any cosmetics below your jawline. However, you can use them on your face only. However, this is because powders or cosmetic products such as bronzers can appear on your mammogram screening.
Furthermore, it is also wise not to apply any deodorant before your screening because of the reason that deodorants consist of metallic particles. The diagnostic rays capture these particles and reflect them on the display screen, which sometimes leads to confusion in the final interpretation.
Yet it is completely safe to clean yourself with a body wash or soap prior to your screening. Just avoid using creams, powders, moisturizers, or other cosmetic products.
Consume Food & Drinks As Usual
The patient is allowed to eat and drink anything before screening tests. There are no restrictions or conditions to stop eating hours before the test. This is mainly due to the reason that mammograms are not fasting tests. Thus, eating or drinking before your appointment would definitely not impact your overall results.
Wear a Comfortable Dress
It is required to undress only from the waist up during a mammogram screening. It means that you can wear shorts, pants, skirt beneath the diagnostic gown. So, we recommend you put on separate bottom and top to help you feel more comfortable. However, you can also wear a one-piece suit as the gown provided by the hospital will cover you entirely. Moreover, you can also wear jewelry during a mammogram screening.
Feel Relaxed During A Mammogram Screening
Mammogram screening is not time-consuming and does not need several hours to complete. In fact, the mammogram examiner will do their best to keep you calm and stress-free throughout the procedure.
The women’s imaging specialist will ask you to stand in front of a mammogram screening machine. Later, he will adjust your breast on the appliance, which will take images of the inside of your chest.
The examiners advise the patient to compress (flatten) their breast against the compression plates. However, it is important to obtain high-quality results during the screening. Do not worry, as compression is not harmful to your chest. You may feel uncomfortable during the process. However, you can resume your normal routine after the diagnosis.
Experience Varies According To The Type Of Mammogram
Whether you have a diagnostic mammogram or a screening mammogram, both experiences are similar. The experience may vary according to the type of mammogram used for diagnosis. 2 – D and 3 – D mammograms are among the most common mammograms.
A major difference between a diagnostic mammogram and a screening mammogram is when they occur. A diagnostic mammogram is usually a follow-up screening test, mainly if you are concerned about any abnormal symptoms. At the same time, a mammogram is generally a preventive screening performed if you are not feeling any unusual symptoms.
Additionally, as far as 2D or 3D mammograms are concerned, there is no noticeable difference between them except that it might take a few more seconds to get the results during a 3D mammogram screening.
learn more about: Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Women?
What To Look Forward To After A Mammogram Screening
You can get dressed as soon as the technologist finishes taking the impressions. Usually, after your screening, you can easily get back to your daily chores. Several people do not feel sore after their screening—however, those who do usually take a pain medicine such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
Do Not Panic While Waiting For Your Screening Results
It hardly takes 20 minutes for your mammogram screening to complete. However, you will be able to get your screening results usually after a few days of your mammogram screening test. A women’s imaging specialist will examine these results and tell you what the report discloses.
Risks Of Mammogram Screening
You will be exposed to low-dose radiation during your mammogram screening. Although the dose is quite low, it definitely outweighs the risk of having a tumor.
You might be subjected to additional tests if something unusual is detected in your mammogram screening result. These additional tests may include a biopsy (in order to obtain a sample of your breast tissue for lab testing) or an ultrasound.
During the mammogram, it is essential to keep in mind that a screening mammogram cannot highlight all cancers. In some cases, the doctor recommends additional physical tests for precise cancer identification. These screening procedures often miss a tumor if it is too small in size or is present in a place that is difficult to access using mammography, for instance, your armpit.
Furthermore, the tumor found by a mammogram screening doesn’t need to be able to get cured. Some breast tumors are quite aggressive, grow at a fast speed, or speedily spread to other body parts.
Final Thought
Mammograms can be quite uncomfortable. However, these procedures only last for up to approximately 20 minutes. In order to feel calm during the whole process, you must know what is going to happen to you during a mammogram screening. In this article, we have discussed some tips on how to prepare for a mammogram screening. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.