For the safety of our patients and staff only patients will be allowed into our clinics special exceptions made and everyone MUST wear a mask. It is not unusual for any woman to be nervous about having her first mammogram. Even an explanation from a doctor, your mother, or friends does not totally prepare you for the exam. But, you can rest assured that for the majority of women, the anticipation is worse than the actual exam. A mammogram is an x-ray. The exposure to radiation is minimal and having a mammogram is safe.
Mammography is the best test for early detection of breast cancer. Experts including the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Obstetricians, agree that women should have their first, or baseline mammogram at the age of Your subsequent tests, advised on a yearly basis, will be compared to your original baseline study. It is important to remember or make a note of where you have your mammogram performed, so if you switch your testing site, you can tell them where to find former x-rays for comparison purposes.
Mammography has come a long way since its initial universal usage in the s. Not only has the imaging become more advanced, but so has the technology in taking that image. Some women claim having a mammogram hurts; others feel it is painless; and yet some say they feel a momentary pinch.
A lot can depend upon the size of your breasts, and the technician. Most radiology groups have trained technicians that specialize in mammography. These technicians rarely perform other radiological procedures, but rather specialize in breast mammograms. They continue training during seminars and classes offered to keep them current on the latest techniques and procedures. Each breast is x-rayed separately by a machine designed specifically for mammography.
The technician places your breast on an x-ray plate. She will direct a second plate above your breast, which will press firmly against it to flatten your breast while the x-ray picture is taken.
A second side view is taken of the same breast. Then, the procedure is repeated for your other breast. Each picture takes only a few moments and the whole exam generally takes about 15 to 20 minutes or so. You will be asked to wait until the technician checks out the x-rays to assure there was no movement and all the breast is included in each x-ray.
Preparing for your first mammogram can be nerve-racking; however. Multiple images eliminate the problem of tissue overlap but increase the time it takes to have a mammogram done. A recent study suggested that 3-D mammograms were better than 2-D mammograms for women 65 and older. The 3-D mammograms found fewer areas that resembled cancer but were actually normal than 2-D mammograms.
Almost all mammograms are done digitally, so the images are stored electronically instead of on film. This means your primary care doctor often has the results back 3 to 4 days after your mammogram. Most doctors or healthcare providers will contact you right away if an abnormality is found so that you can schedule a diagnostic mammogram or other tests to evaluate it.
When your mammogram is normal, your doctor might contact you right away. In most cases, your doctor will mail you the results, which means it could take a few days to receive the results. All in all, you should have your results within a week or two of having a mammogram, but this may vary. Talking to your doctor or healthcare provider will give you the best idea of how and when to expect your results. According to the American Cancer Society , fewer than 1 in 10 women with an abnormal mammogram have cancer.
This is often done as soon as possible so that treatment can begin right away if needed. A follow-up will typically involve a diagnostic mammogram that takes detailed images of the abnormal area. Other tests may include:. A mammogram is an important screening test for breast cancer. You typically have the results within a week or two. If you've never had a mammogram, it's hard to know what to expect. Is it painful? Will it pinch? Here's what you need to know.
A lump under your breast at the bra line can be caused by many things, from a bra to infection and more. We explain what to do if you have one. Many hard breast lumps are harmless, but some signs may mean a doctor's visit is necessary. Learn the causes of hard breast lumps and what to do next. Breast calcifications are small pieces of calcium deposited into breast tissue and are very common. When you are called back for your mammogram, you will remove all clothing and jewelry from the waist up and change into a gown that opens in the front.
In the imaging room, the technologist will ask you to stand next to the mammogram machine and remove one arm from the gown. The technologist will position your breast on a flat plate and lower another plate to compress your breast tissue. Roswell Park offers the latest digital 3D mammography technology, which uses less compression than was necessary in the past to obtain high quality mammogram pictures. When your breast is in place, you will be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds while the technologist takes the mammogram.
The plates are then repositioned to take a second image of that same breast. This process is then repeated on the other side. The technologist will check that the images clearly show both breasts. Once the images are approved, you will then get dressed and proceed to check out. The paperwork will then be brought back to the radiologists, who read the mammograms.
Mammogram screening results are typically available within one business day. Please check RoswellPark. Most women feel discomfort during the actual X-ray process. Your pain level will depend on your personal pain tolerance, the size and shape of your breasts, and where you are in your menstrual cycle. Yes, you can wear deodorant on the day of your mammogram appointment. However, deodorant artifact is visible on mammograms, so you may be asked to cleanse the area before the technologist performs your mammogram.
A 3D scan takes a series of X-rays of the breast from different angles, then creates a three-dimensional image of the breast. The breast is positioned and compressed the same way as a conventional 2D mammogram. Studies have shown that 3D screenings catch more early stage invasive breast cancers than 2D mammography alone. Quinn says.
It also adds another layer of confidence that you can scan through the tissue and see that there is no underlying mass. Learn more about the differences between 2D and 3D mammography. Mammograms do expose the breast to very small doses of radiation during the X-ray. Studies have shown that the benefits from regular mammograms far outweigh the risk. A full mammogram appointment from start to finish typically lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
The mammogram itself typically takes about 10 minutes. The breast is compressed for typically five to 40 seconds per image. Most screening mammograms, performed on patients with no symptoms, are normal.
If you are called back from your screening mammogram for a diagnostic imaging appointment, there is still a good chance that your mammogram will be read as normal after taking additional pictures. If your mammogram is read as abnormal , the radiologist will recommend a breast biopsy procedure called a core-needle biopsy.
Core-needle biopsies are performed in the office with local anesthesia. The results from the biopsy recommendation could still be benign a false positive.
If your breast biopsy results show atypical cells or breast cancer cells, the radiologist will refer you to a breast surgeon at Roswell Park.
0コメント