Upon arrival for a mammogram, a woman will be asked to:
Complete a short medical history form that provides the radiologist with information about the patient's breast cancer risk and prior breast surgeries.
Change into a gown in a private dressing room. A patient only needs to undress from the waist up.
The technologist will:
Escort the patient into a private room where the exam is performed. The technologist will talk the patient through the entire exam and will position the patient for all images.
The breast will be held in brief compression while each image is being taken. The compression should be firm, and it may be slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful.
It's important for women to communicate with the technologist during the exam if something is bothering them or if they have neck, shoulder or back problems that make the exam more difficult. The patient will likely be asked to hold her breath for a moment during the X-ray. The entire exam is often lasts less than 15 minutes.