Counsel women on the need for regular mammography, not just one mammogram. Use pamphlets, videotapes, and other media to educate and motivate patients to receive mammographic screening. Instruct the patient to wear pants or a skirt, because she will have to undress from the waist up. Instruct her to avoid use of deodorants, powders, or other topical agents on the breasts or in underarm areas, because these may cause artifacts on the mammogram. Because of potential perimenstrual breast tenderness, scheduling mammography at other times in the patient's menstrual cycle is preferred.
Patients commonly experience mild discomfort during mammography.
Instruct patients to tell the technician if the level of discomfort becomes unacceptable. Verify that mammography facilities use only dedicated mammography equipment that meets minimum safety and image-quality standards. Facilities that receive Medicare reimbursement must use equipment that complies with minimum standards for patient safety. The American College of Radiology provides certification for compliance with minimum standards for image quality. Certification requirements cover personnel, equipment, radiation exposure, quality assurance programs, and record-keeping and reporting.