Helpful tips for your next mammogram
By Kristi Neuenschwander, Osceola Regional Health Center Radiology
Fall is here. Leaves are falling, the air is becoming crisp, the days are getting shorter and how could you forget all the pink you see in October for Breast Cancer Awareness month. All that pink serves as a reminder that breast cancer is treatable and beatable with early detection. Please remember to schedule your mammogram, perform regular self-checks and encourage the people you care about to do the same. With that being said, our radiology team at Osceola Regional Health Center thought it would be a good time to give some tips for your upcoming mammogram.
As a mammogram technologist, I strive to make sure you are comfortable, so we can get the best images possible. Our team and equipment at Osceola Regional Health Center are accredited for precision and excellence for our mammograms by the American College of Radiology. I hope you will find these tips helpful.
- Let’s talk prep work. A few days prior to your mammogram appointment you will be sent an email and/or a text message to fill out your personal and family history. If you have any questions about this survey, we will be more than happy to help you at your appointment.
- Try not to wear any deodorant, lotion or powder under your breast or armpits to your appointment. These products can sometimes contain little metal particles. During a mammogram those metal particles can show up on the images and can look like cancer. Unaware that it’s just a product flaw, you would need to go on for additional imaging and perhaps further. All of that stress is easily preventable! We do provide wipes that you can use prior to your mammogram.
- If you are someone who has sensitive breasts, try avoiding caffeine for 24 hours prior to your exam. This may help your breast sensitivity. You may also want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever prior to your appointment. Our goal is not to have you in pain. The exam may be a bit uncomfortable, but pain is not what we want. Please inform your mammogram technologist of any pain you may be having. Adjustments can be made to make it more comfortable for you.
- The dreaded compression. During your mammogram, the breast is gently, but firmly compressed between two paddles for just a few seconds per image. This compression may cause brief discomfort or a tight squeezing sensation, it should not be painful. It also serves a very important purpose. By flattening the breast tissue, the compressions paddles are able to spread out overlapping tissues. This allows for a more detailed images which means small abnormalities that are easier to detect. Think of it this way. Hide a grain of sand in your child’s playdough. The more you roll it out, the more likely you will be able to find that grain of sand. That little grain of sand is what the radiologists are looking for in your breast tissue.
- After your exam, we are more than willing to answer any questions you may have. We will send you a letter in the mail regarding your mammogram. The results will go to your provider and also to your AVERA Chart. In a year, we will send you a reminder letter to schedule your next mammogram.
Always remember that early detection is the best prevention!
Health begins with Self-care. Call 712-754-5361 to schedule your 3D mammogram with our accredited team today!