A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It can find breast cancer that is too small for you or your physician, to feel. Studies show that if you are in your 40s or older, having a mammogram every one to two years could save your life.

What Do Mammograms Show?
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a screening mammogram is the best tool available for finding breast cancer early, before symptoms appear. Mammograms can often detect breast cancer before it can be felt. Also, a mammogram can show small deposits of calcium in the breast. Although most calcium deposits are benign, a cluster of very tiny specks of calcium, called microcalcifications, may be an early sign of cancer.

Why Do I Need A Mammogram Every One to Two Years?
Studies by the NCI have shown that as you get older, your chances of getting breast cancer get higher. And because cancer can show up at any time, one mammogram is not enough. It is recommended that you have a mammogram at the same time each year. Talk with your physician or health care provider to set up a mammogram schedule for the rest of your life.

Two Types of Mammograms:

Screening Mammogram
A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs of breast cancer. It usually involves two x-rays of reach breast. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect a tumor that cannot be felt.

Diagnostic Mammogram
A diagnostic mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to diagnose unusual breast changes, such as a lump, pain, nipple thickening or discharge, or a change in breast size or shape. A diagnostic mammogram is also used to evaluate abnormalities detected on a screening mammogram. It is a basic medical tool and is appropriate in the work up of breast changes, regardless of a woman's age.

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Preparing For Your Mammogram
For many women, especially those scheduled for their first mammogram, an upcoming mammography appointment can fill them with uncertainty and anxiety. However, planning ahead can relieve stress and minimize discomfort during mammography.

Thinking Ahead
Know your medical history. If you've had a mammogram before, know your previous results. If it's your first mammogram, a certified nurse clinician will take your complete health history and identify any risk factors for breast cancer.

Communicate with your mammography technician. It is very important to describe any breast symptoms or problems to your technician and also to your healthcare provider. It's also a good idea to think ahead and write down any questions you may have.

Mammogram Day
What day do I schedule? Does it matter? It sure can! Breasts are generally less tender one week after your period. Keep this in mind when arranging for your mammography appointment.

What Not To Eat
Decrease or completely avoid the intake of caffeine (i.e. coffee, black tea, chocolate, and soda).

What to Wear—What Not to Wear
In order to get the clearest mammography image possible, do not wear talcum powder, deodorant, lotion, or perfume under your arms or on your breasts the day of your mammogram. Aluminum flecks contained in some of these substances may show up on your mammogram, making the images more difficult to interpret.

Wear a front-buttoning blouse that is easy to remove. Or wear a two-piece outfit so that you only have to remove your top and bra for the mammogram. Avoid pullover tops that are less convenient.
Avoid wearing jewelry or wear jewelry that can be quickly and easily removed.

Bring Your Records
If you've had previous mammograms, bring your records—complete with names, addresses, and telephone numbers of previous providers—with you to your appointment. As with all medical history, it's important to keep up-to-date, accurate medical records in an accessible format.

What to Expect
Mammograms are quick and easy. You simply stand in front of an x-ray machine. The person who takes the x-rays places your breast between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast and make it flat. This may be uncomfortable for a few seconds, but it helps get a clear picture. You will have x-rays taken of each breast. A mammogram takes only a few seconds.

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Your Mammogram Results
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a high-quality mammogram, with a clinical breast exam (CBE), is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect breast cancer that cannot be felt.

What Mammograms Show
Mammograms are low-dose x-rays. Like all x-rays, a mammogram is a two-dimensional picture of a three-dimensional structure. Dense areas appear as shadows. Breast tissue, which is very dense, shows up white on a mammogram. In contrast, fatty tissue, which is not very dense, shows up gray.

Younger women's breasts are denser, made up of mostly breast tissue. As women age, there's less breast tissue and more fat. In your 30s and 40s breasts are about half breast tissue and half fatty tissue - this depends on your weight. By menopause, most breast tissue goes away, leaving only mostly fatty tissue.

Cancer and benign lumps are the same density as breast tissue and both show up white. Several benign conditions like cysts, fibroadenoma, or fat necrosis, mimic cancer on a mammogram. They may also show intramammary lymph nodes.

Radiologists review your mammogram pictures and tell you how much breast and fat tissue you have and whether or not there are abnormal areas of density.

Mammogram Report
All women who have mammograms receive the results in writing. These mammography reports are used to indicate breast abnormalities and when present, characterize the abnormality. Additional breast imaging (ultrasound or MRI) or breast biopsies are usually the direct result of mammography findings.

It is important to understand that individual mammogram reports vary widely. Some radiologists indicate every finding whether significant or not, whereas others may only address important findings that need further examination.

Your mammogram report may include the following sections:

Findings - A description of what was found from the mammogram, including the size, location, and characteristics of breast abnormalities.

Impressions - An overall assessment of the findings by the radiologist.
Recommendation (Optional) - Sometimes a radiologist gives specific instructions on what actions should follow, including "no action necessary" or further imaging.

Findings
During a screening mammogram, radiologists look for calcifications: microcalcifications and macrocalcifications. Often these are benign formations, however instances of speckled masses or clustered microcalicifications can be signs of breast cancer. A diagnostic mammogram is typically recommended if abnormalities have been found through a screening mammogram.

What If My Results Are Positive?
Cancer is associated with very fine specks of calcium that appear on the mammogram. If your screening mammogram shows clustered specks or other abnormalities, you may be asked to undergo a diagnostic mammogram and/or biopsy procedures. This is considered a positive result.

What If My Results Are Negative?
If there are no abnormalities or specks on your mammogram, this is considered a negative report. It is still important to have regular mammograms each year, or as often as you and your physician decide you should have them.

What Are False Positives and False Negatives?
Like any test, mammograms have both benefits and limitations. This is why the NCI suggests that women set a regular schedule of both mammograms and CBEs as the best possible screening plan.

False Negative Mammograms are breast x-rays that miss cancer when it is present.

False Positive Mammograms are breast x-rays that indicate breast cancer is present when the disease is truly absent.

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