Mammography

(Breast X-ray)

Overview

Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose X-ray system to test for cancers in breast tissue and areas surrounding the breast.

Mammograms play a key role in the early detection of breast cancers, showing changes in the breasts up to two years before they can be felt in a breast exam. This is important because breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in Canadian women, making up 30 percent of all cancers diagnosed in women. Nearly half of all breast cancer cases occur in women between the ages of 50 and 69. However, women of all ages need to be aware of how they can prevent and treat breast cancer. Although their risk of breast cancer is lower, a number of cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in men each year.

CML HealthCare clinic. Digital Mammography.
Click here to see images from other CML HealthCare locations.

FAQs

How often should the test be performed?

Testing usually begins around the age of 50. All women between the ages of 50 and 69 should have a mammogram every two years. Depending on your family history of breast cancer or other risk factors for breast cancer, your doctor might recommend earlier or more frequent testing.

Are there any risks or precautions?

Because the level of radiation used in this test is low, the risk of cell damage is also very low. However, mammograms may cause damage to the developing cells of a fetus, so let your doctor or the technician performing the test know if you are pregnant. A lead shield can be placed over your pelvic area to reduce exposure to the X-ray radiation.

What happens during the test?

You first need to remove any jewellery and metal objects from your body, and all clothing above the waist, and put on a hospital gown. If you are wearing lotion or deodorant on or around your breasts and armpits, you’ll need to rinse it off because these substances can appear on the mammogram as calcium spots.

Although some tests are done while you are sitting or lying down, you will usually be asked to stand while a qualified technologist places one of your breasts on an X-ray plate that holds, and gradually compresses your breast. Two pictures will be taken of each breast, one with the breast compressed from top to bottom and the other with the breast compressed from side to side.

Try to remain completely still while the pictures are being taken in order to reduce the possibility of a blurred image. If a possible abnormality is detected or an image is unclear, more pictures will have to be taken. For women with breast implants, special views are obtained to ensure that all the breast tissue can be seen.

Most women find a mammogram to be uncomfortable. However, compressing the breast tissue is necessary so that all the breast tissue is evened out in order to make the image as clear as possible.

How should I prepare for this test?

Before the breast exam, tell your doctor if you:

• are pregnant, or suspect that you are pregnant, and/or
• have breast implants or have had any breast surgery in the past (e.g., a breast biopsy or breast reduction surgery).

If you experience breast tenderness before your menstrual period, try to schedule the test for a time when your breasts are not tender.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking, and about any medication allergies and medical conditions that you may have. Ask them whether you need to stop taking any of your medications before the test.

What can I expect after the test?

After the test, your breasts may be tender. A warm shower may relieve some of this tenderness.

Results

A radiologist will interpret the results of your mammogram, then send them to your doctor who will discuss them with you. Results may be available immediately after the image is developed, or several days later.

In some cases, you may be asked to return for additional mammograms of one or both breasts. This is a common occurrence and does not necessarily mean that a serious abnormality has been detected.

Digital Mammography has arrived!

Mammograms play a central part in the early detection of breast cancer because they can detect changes in the breast that may be early signs of cancer, but are too small or subtle to be felt. Now a new technology called full-field digital mammography has been shown to have an advantage in the early detection of breast cancer.

Benefits

• More sensitive than standard film mammography.
• May reduce the need for additional images and the amount of radiation exposure.
• The electronic images can be transmitted quickly across our network.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of Digital Mammography.

Click here for requisition forms.