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How a mammogram works
WHAT a mammogram is: a picture of the breast taken with a safe, low-dose X-ray machine. It is the gold standard or the most effective method to detect breast cancer early.
How does screening mammogram work?
• Undress from the waist up.
• Once in the exam room, stand in front of the mammography machine, a special type of X-ray machine that can move up and down, and side to side.
• The breast is positioned between two firm surfaces that will compress the breast. It is necessary to spread the breast tissue and eliminate motion, which may blur the picture. This may hurt a little. The compression usually lasts no more than 20 seconds.
• A radiation beam comes from above and penetrates the breast tissue, and the ray image is either created on a film cassette, located below your breast, or recorded digitally and stored in a computer.
• The images are then processed and made available for review and interpretation. Denser tissue, such as cancer, appears bright and white, whereas less dense tissue, such as fat, appears dark or grey.
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women, accounting for 18% of cancer deaths
Breast cancer accounts for more than 20% of all cancers in women
URGENT SIGNS
See a doctor immediately if you detect:
Painless lump in breast
Persistent rash around nipple
Bleeding or unusual discharge from nipple
Retracted nipple
Swollen, thickened, dimpled or puckered skin on the breast
EARLY DETECTION
Breast lumps are common among women. Only one in 10 lumps is due to cancer
FAMILY HISTORY
Women who have a family history of breast cancer may be at increased risk
40+ OLDER WOMEN
Risk of breast cancer increases with age. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are 40 and above. Late menopause, having fewer children or none at all, being on hormone replacement therapy and weight gain are other risk factors
LOWER YOUR RISK
1. Lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while cutting down on fatty food and alcohol
2. Practise conducting a monthly breast self-examination, three to five days after the start of your period.
3. Go for regular mammograms. If you are aged 40-49, go for a mammography screening once a year until you are 50. After 50, go once every two years.
WHAT a mammogram is: a picture of the breast taken with a safe, low-dose X-ray machine. It is the gold standard or the most effective method to detect breast cancer early.
How does screening mammogram work?
• Undress from the waist up.
• Once in the exam room, stand in front of the mammography machine, a special type of X-ray machine that can move up and down, and side to side.
• The breast is positioned between two firm surfaces that will compress the breast. It is necessary to spread the breast tissue and eliminate motion, which may blur the picture. This may hurt a little. The compression usually lasts no more than 20 seconds.
• A radiation beam comes from above and penetrates the breast tissue, and the ray image is either created on a film cassette, located below your breast, or recorded digitally and stored in a computer.
• The images are then processed and made available for review and interpretation. Denser tissue, such as cancer, appears bright and white, whereas less dense tissue, such as fat, appears dark or grey.
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women, accounting for 18% of cancer deaths
Breast cancer accounts for more than 20% of all cancers in women
URGENT SIGNS
See a doctor immediately if you detect:
Painless lump in breast
Persistent rash around nipple
Bleeding or unusual discharge from nipple
Retracted nipple
Swollen, thickened, dimpled or puckered skin on the breast
EARLY DETECTION
Breast lumps are common among women. Only one in 10 lumps is due to cancer
FAMILY HISTORY
Women who have a family history of breast cancer may be at increased risk
40+ OLDER WOMEN
Risk of breast cancer increases with age. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are 40 and above. Late menopause, having fewer children or none at all, being on hormone replacement therapy and weight gain are other risk factors
LOWER YOUR RISK
1. Lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains while cutting down on fatty food and alcohol
2. Practise conducting a monthly breast self-examination, three to five days after the start of your period.
3. Go for regular mammograms. If you are aged 40-49, go for a mammography screening once a year until you are 50. After 50, go once every two years.
