• Prepare For Your First Visit
• How To Get Here

• Make An Appointment
• Early Detection
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Remodelling
• After Surgery

• Screening Mammography
• Breast Familiarity/Self Exam

Screening Mammography (Imaging)

A mammogram is an x-ray exam of the breast. It is used to detect and diagnose breast disease; both in women who have no breast complaints or symptoms and in women who have breast symptoms such as lump, pain or nipple discharge.

For a mammogram, the breast is positioned between 2 plastic plates attached to the mammogram machine. This squeezing or compression ensures that there will be very little movement so that the image is sharper and a lower x-ray dose is needed. Although this compression may be uncomfortable, it only lasts for a few seconds and is necessary to produce a good mammogram.

Mammography produces a black and white image of the breast tissue on a large sheet of film, which is interpreted by a radiologist. It is very important for the radiologist to have the x-ray films from previous mammograms for comparison. This will help the doctor find small changes and detect a cancer as early as possible.

Tips for having a mammogram

The following are useful suggestions for ensuring that you will receive a good quality mammogram:

• If you have had mammograms at another facility, you may wish to obtain these so that they can be compared to the new ones.
• On the day of the exam, please avoid deodorant use; some deodorants contain substances that can interfere with the reading of the mammogram by appearing on the x-ray film as white spots.
• Schedule your mammogram when your breasts are not tender or swollen to help reduce discomfort and to assure a good picture. Try to avoid the week just before your period.
• For your best breast health, please remember to describe any breast symptoms or problems that you are having to the technologist who is doing the mammogram.