My Breakthrough
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray of the tissue of the breast.
This test is done in the hospital's scanning department. Very low doses of radiation are used - but these pose a negligible risk to health.
How to prepare for the test
When having a mammogram, it is a good idea to wear something that will allow you to gain access to your breasts easily, such as a blouse or shirt. It also helps not to wear lotions and talcum powder as these can affect the clarity of the image.How is the test peformed?
One or two x-rays of each breast will be taken. To do this the breast is pressed firmly between two pieces of plastic. Some women find this uncomfortable, or even painful, but be reassured that the x-ray takes less than a minute and the discomfort is temporary.The whole procedure should take about 10 minutes.
In younger women mammograms can be hard to read as the breast tissue is denser. Younger women are usually scanned using ultrasound, but mammograms, with or without ultrasound, can be performed on women of all ages.
Why is the test performed?
It can reveal changes in the breast before you or your doctor notice them.What are calcifications?
Sometimes, tiny flecks of calcium deposits that have collected in the breast ducts can be seen in clusters on a mammogram. These can indicate change within the breast - perhaps extra breast cell activity- but they do not necessarily indicate that a cancer is present.A tiny build-up of calcium may simply be due to ageing. That said, certain patterns of calcification can be associated with early cancer or benign breast disease. The number, shape and size of the clusters are important characteristics that the radiographer will take into account.
Also within "Diagnosis"
