A mammogram is a special x-ray of the breast. It is currently the most reliable method available to detect breast cancer in the early stages. Finding breast cancer in the early stages vastly increases the chances of a complete recovery.
What to expect
Prior to you mammogram you will be asked to undress to the waist and put on a hospital gown. The x-ray technologist performing your exam has special training in mammography. She will explain each step of the exam to you. For a routine mammogram, two views or pictures of each breast will be taken. The first one is from the top to bottom and the other from side to side. For all mammographic films, your breasts will be compressed briefly against the mammography film. This produces a highly detailed view and reduces the amount of radiation that is necessary to get the ideal image.
Following the exam, you will be asked to wait while your technologist processes and checks the images for quality and position. It is necessary that patients having mammography avoid the use of under arm deodorant, power, zinc oxide, Calamine lotion, or perfume around the breast area. These products can show up on the sensitive mammography film and may give a false positive result. For those patients with extremely sensitive breasts, you may want to avoid caffeine for 72 hours before your examination. This will reduce the discomfort following the examination.
Screening Mammogram
This type of exam can be done for two reasons. First, is to find a cancer in women who have no symptoms. This is called a Screening Mammogram and most of these exams are performed at our Roger Street site. During this study, two x-rays are taken of each breast. Then you will be asked to wait while the technologist checks the images to make sure the best possible ones were obtained. A radiologist will then read them and compare them to any previous mammograms that have been made available.
On occasion, the radiologist will ask for additional views to further study an area of uncertainty. You will be asked to report to the Breast Assessment Centre at our Hospital Drive site for these films to be taken. Your doctor will then receive a written report in the days that follow.
Diagnostic Mammogram
This type of mammogram is performed to find the cause of any symptom patients may have such as breast lumps, nipple discharge or an area of uncertainty identified on their routine screening mammogram. These patients are directed to the Breast Assessment Centre at our Hospital Drive site.
At the Breast Assessment Centre a radiologist reviews each case individually and directs the technologist to take special views of the area of concern. If necessary, an ultrasound of the area in question can be performed immediately. The radiologist will review both the mammogram and the ultrasound before you are sent home.
Hours
- Ontario Breast Screening Program
- Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Breast Assessment Centre
- Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Contact
- Bookings - 876-5039
Breast Assessment Centre - 743-2121 Ext. 3374
Related Links
- Ontario Breast Screening Program
- Canadian Cancer Society