What Every Woman Needs To Know About Mammograms

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women across the globe, as well as the leading cause of female cancer deaths. If that sounds dreadful to you, that's because it is. There is no reason to be pessimistic about your own risk of breast cancer if you live in a developed country with proper screening procedures, however. Eighty-nine percent of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in western nations — the vast majority — are still alive five years after they were first diagnosed. 

Early detection of cancer significantly increases survival rates, and in the case of breast cancer that means having regular mammograms.

If regular mammograms are recommended in your country for your age group, you might be a little scared to participate. Many women are scared that the mammogram will hurt them, and this may lead them to ignore their invitation for screening. 

What Are Mammograms?

Mammograms — also called mammographies — are x-ray pictures of breasts. There are two basic types: screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms. Screening mammograms are used to look for signs of early breast cancer in all women over 40, and they should be performed every one to two years.

A diagnostic mammogram is used to look for breast cancer in women who already have symptoms. Such symptoms may include breast pain, a lump, discharge from the nipple, changes in breast size or shape, and even thickening of the breast's skin. These symptoms can also appear in women who have benign breast conditions, but they are a reason for further investigation. 

In the case of screening mammograms, no suspicious symptoms are present at all — these mammograms are offered to detect early signs of breast cancer that cannot be identified through clinical examination. A screening mammogram can pick up tiny tumors that can't be felt or microcalcifications that may point to breast cancer.

Studies and clinical trials indicate that mammograms are beneficial for women after 40, but do not reduce breast cancer deaths in younger women. As such, the recommendation is that all women over 40 get screened annually or biannually, but especially women over 50. 

Do Mammograms Have Any Disadvantages?

Mammograms do come with small risks. Though the pros are believed to outweigh the cons by far in women over the age of 40, you'll want to know the disadvantages of having a screening mammogram before you decide to have one.

Mammograms are x-rays and use radiation. Repeated exposure to this radiation has the potential to cause cancer in itself. They should not, therefore, be used more often than clinically warranted. Pregnant women or those who think they might possibly be pregnant should always talk to their healthcare provider before undergoing any type of x-ray, as the radiation can harm the growing baby.

A false positive result will inevitably lead to much more medical tests as well as lots of mental stress and anxiety. A false negative result, in which no cancer is detected despite its presence, will do the opposite and give you false peace of mind that may lead you to ignore symptoms of breast cancer later on. 

Finally, women who have mammograms should know that though this screening procedure reduces the risk of breast cancer deaths for most women, this is not always true. Certain aggressive cancers grow fast and spread through the body at alarming rates. If this happens to an individual woman, there is the chance that she would have preferred to live normally without being aware of the cancer for longer. 

See Also: Breaking News! Women in Their 40's Benefit from Mammograms

You may still have some concerns about the mammogram procedure itself, so we will describe it in detail on the next page. 

What To Expect From A Mammogram

Women who live in countries where mammograms are carried out routinely after age 40 are likely to receive an invitation letter from their local doctor when they are due for screening. Your country may carry these mammograms out periodically, sometimes even in a mobile clinic. 

"All ladies from our street get called up on the same day," Anna — a 50-year old woman from the Netherlands — shares. "My neighbor and I carpool to get to the mobile clinic every other year." If your country is less proactive, you may need to remember it's time for your mammogram yourself, and make the appointment. 

Does It Hurt?

The mammogram comes with two plates. The x-ray plate sits at the bottom of the machine, and an adjustable plastic plate is on top. Your breasts are x-rayed one at a time, and are briefly compressed between the two plates to take the picture. This is done so that you do not move during the procedure, and to make the breast tissue thinner so a clearer picture can be made. 

Does it hurt? "My neighbor is always really nervous about her mammogram," Anna says. "She says the procedure is very painful for her. I don't think anything of it because it really doesn't hurt me at all. But then again, my neighbor has huge breasts and I only have small ones." 

The experience is, in other words, individual. Most women find that the thought of having a mammogram is worse than the reality. You're much more likely to experience slight discomfort than actual pain. If you do feel pain, talk to your technician about it. 

Mammograms can be digital or film. The actual picture looks different depending on which method is used, but both detect the exact same things. The pictures of your breasts are interpreted by a doctor — usually a radiologist — and you will get your results within a few weeks. 

If your mammogram is normal, you can forget about it until you are due for your next one. If you have abnormal results, go in to talk to your doctor but don't freak out right away because the changes found by a mammogram can also be benign. 

Preparing For Your Mammogram

Do you need to prepare for a mammogram? "You have to take your top off to have a mammogram, obviously," Anna says. "My main tip is not to wear a dress, as some ladies from my street did." Apart from that very practical advice, women who are about to undergo a mammogram will want to remember to refrain from wearing deodorants or perfumes on the day itself, as they can distort the x-ray. 

Women who are currently menstruating or are about to start will want to reschedule their mammogram if the appointment was made for them, or they can avoid having the procedure around "that time of the month" if they are undergoing the mammogram privately.

See Also: Tips For Breast Cancer Prevention

The procedure won't take more than 20 minutes from start to finish, excluding any possible waiting time. After that, you just have to wait for the results. If you get the all-clear, simply ask when you're due for your next mammogram and continue to practice regular self-breast exams. If you do have breast cancer, the early detection will usually increase your survival rate greatly.