Mammograms: What Every Woman Needs to Know

This year, more than 175,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. About 40,000 women will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.

Mammograms can detect many breast cancers before anyone can feel them. When breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, the majority of patients survive for at least five years.

The risk for breast cancer increases with age, especially after age 40, the ACS says. As a general guideline, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women ages 40 and older have a mammogram every one to two years; the ACS recommends a yearly mammogram after age 40. Your health care provider, however, may propose another strategy based on your situation.

The ACS also recommends a clinical breast exam (an examination of the breasts by a health care provider) when a woman has her mammogram.

What is a mammogram?

This low-dose X-ray produces an image of the inner structures of the breast. It can detect tiny calcium deposits or micro-calcifications that are too small to feel. Most of these deposits are benign, but sometimes -- especially when in clusters -- they may be an early sign of breast cancer.

Preparing for the exam

If you've never had a mammogram, you may be nervous about it. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare for the exam may help ease your concerns. Try these tips:

• If your breasts are sensitive before and during menstruation, schedule your mammogram the week after your period.

• On the day of your appointment, wear a shirt and bra that you can remove easily because you'll need to undress from the waist up.

• Don't wear deodorant, powder or lotion, which can affect your X-rays.

• If you've had a mammogram before but at a different facility, arrange in advance to have the most recent X-ray sent to your current facility. Your health care provider will want to check for changes since your last screening.

During the mammogram

A technician will help position your breast on a platform. The technician will take two X-rays for each breast, each from a different angle. The machine will compress your breast to get a clear picture of as much tissue as possible, including the armpit. This process lasts just a few seconds. Having your breast flattened may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn't hurt. The machine can be adjusted, so tell the technician if you experience any pain.

After the exam

You may receive your mammogram results that day, or the results may come in the mail within 15-20 days A copy of the report also will go to your doctor. Follow up with him or her if you haven't been contacted in more than a month. Do not presume that no news is good news. Call your physician's office and ask for the result of the report.

If your results show an area of concern, don't panic: Approximately 80 percent of breast lumps are not cancerous. Other tests, such as a diagnostic mammogram that takes more X-rays, or a biopsy, can help your doctor determine the cause.