Then she'll ask you to raise your arm over your head and hold your breath for a few seconds as she takes the x-ray. She'll take two views of each breast, one from above and another from the side. On the day of your mammogram, don't wear deodorant, talcum powder, perfume, or lotion, since those things can show up on the film. Having your breasts squeezed under about 20 pounds of pressure can be uncomfortable if not downright painful. But proper compression of the breast is necessary to get an accurate reading.
Poor compression can lead to false positive readings.
You can lessen the discomfort by scheduling your mammogram during the week after your period, when your breasts are least likely to be tender. You may also want to take aspirin or ibuprofen an hour before the procedure. Ask ahead of time if they can warm the trays, and be sure to let the technologist know if you're finding the procedure painful so she can make an adjustment. Doctors don't know why, but some women find that cutting out caffeine or taking 400 international units of vitamin E each day for a few weeks beforehand makes their breasts less sensitive. If you have particularly small or large breasts or if you have breast implants, ask for a technologist who has experience accommodating women like you.