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How is a mammogram done?

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How is a mammogram done?

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When you have a mammogram, your breast is compressed between an x-ray plate and a plastic plate. Both plates are attached to the mammogram machine, as shown in the picture below. Your breasts need to be compressed to spread the tissue apart. This ensures that there will be very little movement, that the image will be sharper, and that the exam can be done with a lower x-ray dose. Although the compression can uncomfortable and even painful for some women, it only lasts for a few seconds and is needed to produce a good mammogram image. The entire procedure for a mammogram takes about 20 minutes. The x-ray device and compression plates used for mammograms Mammograms produce a black and white x-ray picture of the breast tissue. Depending on the type of mammography unit, the picture is either on a large sheet of x-ray film, or is an electronic picture that can be looked at on a computer screen. Today, most mammography units are screen-film units, which means they produce the mammography pic

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You stand in front of a special x-ray machine. The person who takes the x-rays, called a radiologic technologist, places your breasts (one at a time) between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast to make it flat. You will feel pressure on your breast for a few seconds. It may cause you some discomfort; you might feel squeezed or pinched. But, the flatter your breast, the better the picture. Most often, two pictures are taken of each breast–one from the side and one from above. A screening mammogram takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.

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The person who takes the x-rays, called a radiologic technologist, places one breast at a time between two plastic plates, which press the breast to flatten it. You will feel pressure and possibly some discomfort for a few seconds. The flatter your breast is, the better the picture. Usually, two pictures are taken of each breast–one from the side and one from above. A screening mammogram appointment takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

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Two x-rays are usually done for each breast, one top view and one side view. If you have breast implants or breast problems, more x-rays may need to done. A regular mammogram usually takes about 20 minutes. • You will be given a hospital gown. Take off all your clothes from the waist up. Wear the hospital gown so that it opens in the front. • Tell the person doing the mammogram if you have breast implants. Tell them about any breast problems or changes before you have the mammogram. Tell them if you are nervous, scared, or upset about having a mammogram. The person may ask if you take hormone medicine, have family members with breast cancer, and other questions. • You will sit or stand next to a small x-ray table. The caregiver doing the test will help you place one of your breasts on the x-ray plate. Your breast will be moved until the correct position has been found. • Your breast will be gently flattened between two plastic plates for a few seconds. Having your breasts spread flat a

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You stand in front of a special x-ray machine. The person who takes the x-rays (always a woman) places your breasts (one at a time) between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast and make it flat. You will feel pressure on your breast for a few seconds. It may cause you some discomfort, feeling like squeezing or pinching. But, the flatter your breasts, the better the picture. Most often, two pictures are taken of each breast – one from the side and one from above. The whole thing takes only a few minutes. How is a mammogram done in a woman with breast implants? If you have breast implants, be sure to tell your mammography facility that you have them. You will need an x-ray technician who is trained in x-raying patients with implants. This is important because breast implants can hide some breast tissue, which could make if difficult for the radiologist to see breast cancer when looking at your mammograms. For this reason, to take a mammogram of a breast with an implant, the x

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