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Click Here! With the introduction of the new Agfa film/screen system for mammography, we have taken mammography another major step forward. This new milestone in mammography incorporates a century of experience in imaging technology, offering an image with high contrast and high definition for outstanding visualization of details throughout the breast.

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What is Mammography?

A mammogram is a special X-ray image of the breast. Two X-rays are taken for each breast. The X-rays are usually done by a trained woman radiographer. The mammograms are then reported by a radiologist.
 

Is Mammography Safe for Me?
Recent advances in mammography equipment and techniques have resulted in women now only receiving a small radiation dose. The benefits of being screened for breast cancer far outweigh any potential risks of radiation from a mammogram examination. The risk of a mammogram is equivalent to smoking 1/8 of a cigarette.
 
How Effective is Mammography?

Mammography is the most effective, non invasive and the best way to detect early breast cancer especially when it is too small to be felt by you or your doctor. For this reason, breast screening is now available to all women aged 40 and above. Mammography complements but cannot replace monthly self breast examination and regular physical examination by your doctor even when you have reached 40 years and above.
 

Is Mammography Painful?
Mammography is usually described as painful by many women but if you ask them further, you will realize it is just a temporary discomfort. Almost all of them will say it is definitely tolerable. Each breast is gently squeezed (compressed) and flattened by a special device when the x-ray images are taken. This lasts for a few seconds and will not harm the breast. The entire examination will take approximately half an hour from preparing for the examination, taking the mammogram views itself and dressing up again.
 
When Should I Go For a Mammogram?

The present guidelines for screening of asymptomatic women (asymptomatic = those who do not have any symptoms related to the breast) are:

  • At age 35-40: baseline mammogram
  • At age 40-49: mammograms annually
  • At age 50 and above: mammograms one to two yearly depending on several factors such as hormone replacement therapy, risk profile.
     
Can I have a mammogram if I am younger than 35 years old?
Symptomatic women, that is women who have signs or symptoms related to the breast like a lump, nipple discharge, mastalgia (breast pain), unexplained decrease or increase in breast size or appearance, will require a mammogram to resolve the particular problem. There is no age limit for a mammogram should your doctor suspect you may have a suspicious “abnormality” in your breast.
 
How many Mammogram views of the breast will be taken?
Normally 2 views of each breast are taken. If there is some finding in your mammogram or in relation to your breast symptom and sign, sometimes additional images will be required where the abnormal area seen on the mammogram is further compressed to give a clearer picture or a supplementary view in a slightly different position is done.
 
What if I have a breast implant, can I still have a mammogram done?
It is vital that you inform the radiographer if you have a breast implant. Special views may be necessary for the assessment to allow as much of the breast to be viewed on the mammograms. Special care is also taken with regards to compression. However, you must remember that once you have an implant, it will obscure (block) visualization of parts of your breast, sometimes, with only a small portion of your breast tissue being available for imaging. This will depend on the size of the implant and the position of the implant. Therefore, the ability of the mammogram to pick up abnormalities of the breast is much lower than in a “normal” breast, free from implants.
 
What happens if there is some abnormality on my mammogram?
A palpable lump or an abnormality detected on screening mammogram may require additional mammogram views or further examination like breast ultrasound or special mammographic procedures such as stereotactic guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), core biopsy or wire localisation.
 
Is Mammography Perfect?
Mammography may be the key to successful treatment and cure of the disease. However, mammography can fail in detection of some cancers since not all breast cancers produce a recognizable change in the mammogram and this occurs more often when the woman has dense breast tissue. Palpable cancers are not always visible and visible cancers are not always palpable. In the best of hands, mammograms therefore can miss 10% of cancers.
 
How Do I Prepare for a Mammogram?
No special preparation is required for a mammogram. However, it is advisable to wear separates (two piece garments) – sarong, skirt or pants with a button-through top. This is helpful for the mammographic positioning and also for an ultrasound examination, if needed. The women are advised not to use deodorant, talcum powder or perfume which may cause artifacts on the X-ray film and which may require a repeat examination. You may wish to schedule a mammogram after your period (menses) is over if you have premenstrual breast engorgement and pain.


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Last Updated:
Tuesday, 04 January 2005