When it comes to breast cancer screenings, mammograms are considered the gold standard — they are noninvasive and can detect breast cancer tumors when they are less than 1 centimeter in size, improving treatment options and survival rates. According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), women with an average breast cancer risk should begin receiving mammograms at age 40.
If you just turned 40, you may be due for your first mammogram. You may also be feeling a little nervous because you’ve never had one before, which is totally normal. Knowing what to expect can help ease your nerves and make for a smoother experience.
Before your appointment
Here are a few things to keep in mind when scheduling and preparing for your first mammogram:
- Make the appointment before you turn 40 so you’re ready to go after your birthday.
- Keep your menstrual cycle in mind when scheduling. The exam can be more uncomfortable right before or during your period when breasts tend to be more sensitive.
- Don’t wear deodorant, lotion, perfume, or oils, as it will interfere with the machine’s ability to take quality pictures. (The office should also remind you of this before you arrive.)
- Wear comfortable clothing, especially shoes. You’ll be standing during the exam. Some people prefer to wear a top and pants/skirt instead of a dress since you undress from your waist up for the procedure.
During your appointment
When you arrive at your appointment, you’ll receive a health questionnaire to fill out. Then, you’ll head to a private changing room where you will change out of your shirt and bra (you can keep your bottoms on) and into a gown that opens in the front.
The technician will then take you to the exam room for your mammogram. You and the technician will be the only ones in the room. If it’s your first time, they will guide you through the entire process and try to make the whole experience as comfortable as possible.
To start, the technician will position your breasts in between two plastic imaging plates. They will talk you through repositioning each breast to take multiple images and angles. You may have to hold your breath for a few seconds while the machine takes images. Some women describe the experience of getting a mammogram as feeling like their breasts were being pinched. It may feel uncomfortable for a minute, but it’s important to get your breasts positioned correctly to ensure they are getting an accurate scan of the entire breast.
Try to relax and breathe in between scans. Yes, it can be uncomfortable, but tensing up could make it more uncomfortable. And remember, don’t be afraid to ask questions!
What to know about breast density
If the technician mentions you have dense breasts, it means your breasts have relatively more milk glands, milk ducts, and supportive tissue than fat, which can sometimes make detecting cancer more difficult. If this is the case for you, don’t panic. This is common — nearly half of women aged 40 and older have dense breasts. It simply means the tech may have to take a few more X-rays than planned because they don’t have baseline imaging for you yet. Either way, the entire process is brief — ten to 15 minutes at most.
After your appointment
Usually, you get your mammogram results within a few days, although this can vary. The radiologist who examines your scans will interpret your mammogram results and then send them to you and the provider who ordered your mammogram. If you don’t receive your results within a month, contact your provider or the facility where you got your mammogram.
Annual mammograms are a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. It’s also the second-leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. For non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Concerningly, breast cancer has been increasing among younger Asian American and Pacific Islander women.
While mammograms don’t prevent breast cancer, they can save lives because they can find breast cancer early. And the earlier it’s found, the better the chance of beating it. In fact, finding breast cancer early reduces the risk of dying from the disease by 25 to 30 percent or more.
That’s why getting a mammogram once a year is so important in the fight against breast cancer. If you think you’ll have a hard time remembering to schedule your annual mammogram, give yourself the gift of health and call to make your mammogram appointment every year during your birthday week.
When to get a mammogram before you’re 40
While breast cancer screenings are recommended for women beginning at 40, about four percent of all breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. occur in women under 40.
So, if you are in your 20s or 30s, it’s important to perform breast self-exams once a month, about one to two weeks after your menstrual cycle, to become familiar with the way your breasts normally look and feel so that it will be easier to identify any changes or abnormalities, like lumps or skin discoloration. If you notice any changes, contact your gynecologist right away. They may schedule you for a mammogram. It’s also very important to visit your gynecologist for preventive care once a year, as they perform breast exams during your appointments, too.
Regardless of your age, breast self-exams and regular gynecologist visits are tools that help detect breast cancer early.
