Preparing For A Mammogram

For optimum results in your mammogram screening, follow these tips, checking with your doctor beforehand if you have questions or concerns:

1. Schedule your mammogram at least two weeks before your expected period and a week after your last period. This timeframe will help you avoid tenderness that is often associated with hormonal changes just before or after your monthly period. If you no longer have periods, you can schedule your mammogram at any time. Be sure to have the test done at a facility that is approved by your physician for this procedure. Also check with your insurance company to determine how much of the bill will be paid, and which part, if any, you will be responsible for.

2. Avoid drinking caffeine products the day before and the day of your scheduled test. In fact, you may want to avoid coffee, tea, and other sources of this stimulant for at least a week before your x-ray. Caffeine may lead to lumps associated with fibrocystic disease in certain women. While the lumps themselves do not typically cause problems, they can raise questions on an x-ray or to the technician who performs a manual examination first.

3. On the day of your mammogram, remove deodorants, perfumes, and other cosmetics from or around your breasts, as particles from these sometimes show up on the x-ray. The same goes for shower gel, bath soap or crystals, and shampoo residue, along with underarm shaving cream. Your underarms and breasts, along with surrounding areas, should be free of any chemicals, residues, or substances that might impact your x-ray.

4. To get into a positive mindset and reduce your anxiety level, remind yourself of the value of having a mammogram to protect your health, especially when scheduled by a doctor who closely follows your health and arranges for annual testing. This type of approach can help to catch problems early, which often leads to a complete cure.

5. Don't panic if you are called back for additional x-rays. Allegedly, 80% or more of the women who are asked to return for more x-rays end up having a negative finding in their tests. That is, the comprehensive evaluation reveals there is no cancerous lump or mass. Even when a biopsy is scheduled to examine a suspicious lump, there is a good chance that the lump will be benign. Stay upbeat and remind yourself that early detection means a better chance of healing.

Mammograms help to find tiny cancers before they can be felt in the breast. So ask your doctor about the best time for you to have this test. In addition, don't forget to do a monthly self-examination of your breasts and report any unusual findings, such as a lump, thickening, swelling, or inverted nipple, among other changes.