What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is a breast cancer screening tool. It takes an X-ray image of your breasts to identify changes in breast tissue that you may not be able to find during your monthly self-breast exam.
The primary goal of a mammogram is to detect early signs of breast cancer. More than 10% of women develop breast cancer during their lifetime in the United States.
Who needs a mammogram?
Women ages 50-74 need a mammogram every two years. If you’re under age 50, talk to the team at Garden State Women’s Center to discuss a good time to start your mammograms.
What happens during a mammogram?
During a mammogram, the X-ray technician places your breast between two special plates that flatten your breast. You may feel some pressure or discomfort during this part of the X-ray process, but it’s temporary. The flatter your breast, the better the image.
The X-ray technician takes at least two pictures of each breast, one from the top and one from the side. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.
The X-ray uses a very low dose of radiation and is considered very safe.
Are there different types of mammograms?
There are two types of mammograms:
- Screening mammogram — for women without a history of breast tissue changes or breast cancer
- Diagnostic screening — multiple images to generate a complete picture for women with a history of breast tissue change, breast cancer, or concerns after a self-examination
Garden State Women’s Center also offers:
- 3D mammograms — generates multiple images to create a 3D image of your breast
- Ultrasound mammograms — uses sound waves to generate images of your breast tissue
What does a mammogram detect?
The mammogram itself can’t tell you if you have cancer, but it’s able to capture tissue changes that might require more testing — specifically, it identifies breast lumps and calcifications.
The mammogram goes a little further and provides the shape and size of your lumps and calcifications, which might offer more information about the breast tissue changes. For example, smooth lumps and large calcifications are usually benign, while jagged lumps and small clusters of calcification may indicate malignancy.
If you have concerns about breast health and would like to talk about mammograms, call the office or book an appointment using the online booking tool.
