What Is a Mammogram? | CDC

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests ... Skipdirectlytositecontent Skipdirectlytopageoptions SkipdirectlytoA-Zlink BreastCancer SectionNavigation CDCHome Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate WhatIsaMammogram?Español(Spanish) Minus RelatedPages Regularmammogramsarethebesttestsdoctorshavetofindbreastcancerearly. AmammogramisanX-raypictureofthebreast.Doctorsuseamammogramtolookforearlysignsofbreastcancer.Regularmammogramsarethebesttestsdoctorshavetofindbreastcancerearly,sometimesuptothreeyearsbeforeitcanbefelt. Areyouworriedaboutthecost?CDCoffersfreeorlow-costmammograms.Findoutifyouqualify. Howisamammogramdone? YouwillstandinfrontofaspecialX-raymachine.Atechnologistwillplaceyourbreastonaplasticplate.Anotherplatewillfirmlypressyourbreastfromabove.Theplateswillflattenthebreast,holdingitstillwhiletheX-rayisbeingtaken.Youwillfeelsomepressure.Thestepsarerepeatedtomakeasideviewofthebreast.TheotherbreastwillbeX-rayedinthesameway.YouwillthenwaitwhilethetechnologistchecksthefourX-raystomakesurethepicturesdonotneedtobere-done.Keepinmindthatthetechnologistcannottellyoutheresultsofyourmammogram.Eachwoman’smammogrammaylookalittledifferentbecauseallbreastsarealittledifferent. Whatdoeshavingamammogramfeellike? Havingamammogramisuncomfortableformostwomen.Somewomenfinditpainful.Amammogramtakesonlyafewmoments,though,andthediscomfortisoversoon.Whatyoufeeldependsontheskillofthetechnologist,thesizeofyourbreasts,andhowmuchtheyneedtobepressed.Yourbreastsmaybemoresensitiveifyouareabouttogetorhaveyourperiod.Adoctorwithspecialtraining,calledaradiologist,willreadthemammogram.HeorshewilllookattheX-rayforearlysignsofbreastcancerorotherproblems. TipsforGettingaMammogram IfyouaredueforamammogramandhavebeenrecentlyvaccinatedforCOVID-19,askyourdoctorhowlongyoushouldwaitaftervaccinationtogetyourmammogram.Moreinformation Trynottohaveyourmammogramtheweekbeforeyougetyourperiodorduringyourperiod.Yourbreastsmaybetenderorswollenthen. Onthedayofyourmammogram,don’tweardeodorant,perfume,orpowder.TheseproductscanshowupaswhitespotsontheX-ray. Somewomenprefertowearatopwithaskirtorpants,insteadofadress.Youwillneedtoundressfromyourwaistupforthemammogram. WhenwillIgettheresultsofmymammogram? Youwillusuallygettheresultswithinafewweeks,althoughitdependsonthefacility.Aradiologistreadsyourmammogramandthenreportstheresultstoyouandyourdoctor.Ifthereisaconcern,youwillhearfromthemammographyfacilityearlier.Contactyourhealthcareproviderorthemammographyfacilityifyoudonotreceiveareportofyourresultswithin30days. Anexampleofanormalmammogram.Eachwoman’smammogrammaylookalittledifferentbecauseallbreastsarealittledifferent. Whathappensifmymammogramisnormal? Continuetogetmammogramsaccordingtorecommendedtimeintervals.Mammogramsworkbestwhentheycanbecomparedwithpreviousones.Thisallowstheradiologisttocomparethemtolookforchangesinyourbreasts. Whathappensifmymammogramisabnormal? Anabnormalmammogramdoesnotalwaysmeanthatthereiscancer.Butyouwillneedtohaveadditionalmammograms,tests,orexamsbeforethedoctorcantellforsure.Youmayalsobereferredtoabreastspecialistorasurgeon.Itdoesnotnecessarilymeanyouhavecancerorneedsurgery.Thesedoctorsareexpertsindiagnosingbreastproblems.Doctorswilldofollow-upteststodiagnosebreastcancerortofindthatthereisnocancer. WherecanIgetamammogramandwhocanItalktoifIhavequestions? Ifyouhavearegulardoctor,talktohimorher. ContacttheNationalCancerInstitute.externalicon ForMedicareinformation,youcancall1-800MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227)orvisitTheCentersforMedicare&MedicaidServices.externalicon CDC’sNationalBreastandCervicalCancerEarlyDetectionProgramworkswithhealthdepartmentsandothergroupstoprovidelow-costorfreemammogramstowomenwhoqualify.Findoutifyouqualify. MoreInformation Findamammographyfacilityinyourstateorterritoryexternalicon Pagelastreviewed:September20,2021 Contentsource: DivisionofCancerPreventionandControl,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention homeBreastCancer BasicInformationplusicon WhatIsBreastCancer? WhatAretheSymptoms? WhatAretheRiskFactors? WhatCanIDotoReduceMyRisk? WhatIsBreastCancerScreening? WhatIsaMammogram? WhatDoesItMeantoHaveDenseBreasts? HowIsBreastCancerDiagnosed? HowIsBreastCancerTreated? Triple-NegativeBreastCancer BreastCancerinYoungWomenplusicon BringYourBraveCampaign AdvisoryCommitteeonBreastCancerinYoungWomenplusicon Members Ex-OfficioMembers Meetings Roster BreastCancerinMen Statistics WhatCDCIsDoing ResourcestoShareplusicon Videos Podcasts ShareableGraphics PrintMaterials StayInformed Facebook Twitter LinkedIn SAS stats ExitNotification/DisclaimerPolicy Close LinkswiththisiconindicatethatyouareleavingtheCDCwebsite. TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)cannotattesttotheaccuracyofanon-federalwebsite. 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