What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is a screening test for breast cancer that is used to diagnose the disease in women who show no other symptoms, although it can also be used when a breast lump has been detected. Mammography uses X-rays to detect signs of breast cancer in the early stages of the disease, before other symptoms appear.
What does it do?
A mammogram takes two X-ray images of each breast. Each breast is scanned individually and consists of placing the breast on a clear plate inside the X-ray machine, where it is slightly compressed with another clear plate on top, in order to flatten the breast. The machine then takes X-ray images of each breast. The test is usually performed by a female specialist and the x-rays last a few seconds each, so it is not a very long test.
Why is it performed?
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor among women worldwide, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer. In Spain its incidence is low compared to the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland, but it is one of the most aggressive. In 2019, 33,307 new cases were diagnosed in Spain, according to the AECC Cancer Observatory.
Mammography to detect breast cancer is really important for early diagnosis, which greatly improves the prognosis of the disease.
Preparation for mammography
Normally, no special preparation is necessary for a mammogram, but it may be advisable to wear a button-up blouse that can be opened instead of a dress or T-shirt, since it is necessary to undress from the waist up.
What does the exam feel like?
During the exam the patient may feel some pressure on the breast, as the machine needs to flatten the breast to make the scan. However, in most cases it is not a painful process.
Some patients may feel anxious, especially if something abnormal is found on the mammogram, which may lead to further testing. But there is no need to panic prematurely. Mammography is a reliable test but there is always a margin of error, and signs of breast cancer may be found to be incorrect, known as false positives. But it can also happen the other way around, that signs are missed, giving a false negative.
Despite this, mammography is a basic test for early detection of cancer, and should be essential in women over a certain age and in those with a family history of breast cancer.
Significance of abnormal results
After mammography the patient should receive the results within two weeks or so. About one in 25 women are called back for further testing, which may or may not result in breast cancer. If cancer is finally diagnosed it is a very hard time for the patient but, as mentioned above, mammography allows it to be detected at a very early stage, so it has treatment and the survival rate is very high.