MAMMOGRAPHY
(X-Ray Examination of the Breast)
Additional information can be found on our Web site:
Patient Information Sheet
Palo Alto Medical Foundation Department of Radiology Palo Alto
For your convenience you may wish to print this page and write in the time and location of your appointment. If you have any questions or concerns about the test please give us a call at (650) 853-2955.
Time: ____________________ Date:_______________________
Location: _______________________________________________
Palo Alto Medical Foundation Radiology Facilities
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Palo Alto Clinic Fremont Center |
Los Altos Center Redwood Shores Health Center |
PLAN TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF HOUR IN THE X-RAY DEPARTMENT. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CANNOT KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT.
Current research indicates that one out of nine women in the United States have a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. That's a scary statistic.
But doctors agree that a mammogram-an x-ray examination of the breast-is the most effective way to spot breast cancer early and, therefore, treat it properly.
At the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, the main emphasis is on early detection and treatment of breast cancer, with constant concern for the patient's total emotional and physical well-being. We're proud of the fact that thousands of women with breast cancer have been treated successfully at the Clinic and are now leading happy, healthy lives. And the cure rate continues to rise.
This page will tell you a little bit about how mammography works and what the procedure involves.
I. What Is a Mammogram?
A mammogram is a safe, low-dose x-ray examination of the breast. It is the most accurate method of discovering a tumor before it can be felt. But because about 10 percent of breast cancers are missed by mammography, your physician's examination and advice are also essential parts of a survey for breast cancer.
II. When Do I Need a Mammogram?
A mammogram may be ordered when you are experiencing a breast problem (e.g., lump or thickening, skin dimpling, nipple irritation, nipple discharge, persistent pain, or persistent tenderness). As you get older, the risk for breast cancer increases, and screening mammograms are recommended on a periodic basis for all women, including those who have NO evident clinical breast problems. Screening mammograms are designed to detect breast cancer at the earliest stages when there is the best opportunity to treat it successfully. The American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines for breast cancer detection:
Ask your physician, nurse, or mammography technologist to teach you the proper breast self-examination (BSE) method.
III. How do I prepare for a mammogram?
For a mammogram, it is necessary to be bare to the waist. Therefore, you may wish to wear a blouse with a skirt or slacks rather than a dress. Prior to the examination, do NOT use deodorant, powder, spray, oil, or cream on the underarm or breast area, as the residue may leave a misleading image on the mammogram. WASH your breasts and underarms thoroughly before the examination. If your breasts tend to be sensitive to compression, please have your mammogram done at the time of month when there is the least tenderness (usually the first 7 days after the start of your menstrual period). Breast sensitivity can also be decreased by avoiding all caffeine (found in coffee, tea, colas, chocolate, etc.) for 1-2 weeks prior to the mammogram.
If you have had a mammogram at another facility, please be prepared to give us the EXACT name, address, and phone number of that facility, in case we need to send for those films. If your MOST RECENT previous mammogram was done at another facility, please try to PERSONALLY CARRY the outside mammograms to us when you have your new mammogram, so the two studies can be compared.
If you are a new patient at the Clinic, please come 30 minutes early to register in the Clinic lobby.
IV. How is a mammogram done?
A mammogram is conducted in complete privacy by a female registered technologist. The technologist positions your breast between two plastic plates that compress the breast, improve the quality of the picture, and decrease the amount of radiation. Mammography should not be painful, but firm compression of the breast to the limit of comfort will be necessary. We ask for your understanding.
At least two x-ray views are obtained of each breast. Extra views are often necessary to complete the examination; they are routinely done in patients with breast implants.
V. Is a Mammogram Safe?
Our mammography facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To be accredited, we pass a rigorous review that includes quality control tests, evaluation of mammogram film quality, evaluation of personnel (i.e., radiologists, technologists, and physicists), and equipment performance (including image quality and dose).
We at all times use the smallest possible amount of radiation for any x-ray examination. For mammography, we use a specially designed x-ray machine which produces fine detail at a very low dose of radiation. Under these conditions, health professionals agree, the benefits of identifying breast cancer far exceed whatever small hazards the radiation may impose.
VI. What Happens After The Examination?
Your mammogram will be interpreted by a physician who is a board certified radiologist with special training and certification in mammography. The radiologist's report of your mammogram will be forwarded to your physician within five working days. Mammograms are complex images and are difficult to interpret. Therefore, an immediate report is often not advisable. Your mammogram report will reach you through your physician.
We try to obtain all necessary mammogram films during your scheduled appointment. After careful inspection, we may ask you to return for additional special views. This does not mean that an abnormality has been discovered, but that, for a variety of reasons, the examination is incomplete until these additional views have been made. We appreciate your cooperation and apologize for the inconvenience should this return visit be necessary.
Last Revised 12/01