Make Your Mammogram Less Stressful

Whatever way you look at it, getting a mammogram can be a stressful experience. In addition to the physical discomfort that can accompany the exam, there can also be emotional discomfort. How many of us have worriedly thought to ourselves during the exam, “What if they find something?”

When it comes to treating breast cancer, though, early detection really is best, offering the best hope for successful treatment and long-term survival. Therefore, it’s so important to schedule regular mammograms and to encourage the women in your life to do the same. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and in honor of this very important month, here are some tips to help make your mammograms more comfortable.

Before the mammogram:

• Schedule the mammogram for the week after your period when your breasts are least tender.
• Go to a facility that does a lot of mammogram screenings and is certified by the American College of Radiology. "They'll have high-quality technicians and radiologists on staff," says Stephen Taplin, M.D., head of the breast cancer screening program at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Washington. There's a list of certified facilities on the website for the Food & Drug Administration, or you can call the National Cancer Institute at 800-422-6237.
• If you're switching mammogram centers, make sure your new center has copies of your previous mammograms so radiologists can compare them to your latest test. That can help to reduce false-positive results (where suspicious findings show up when they're not really there).
• Don't wear perfume, antiperspirant/deodorant, talcum powder, or jewelry. They can interfere with the accuracy of the image by creating the illusion of abnormalities, or even masking precancers or cancers.
• Wear a two-piece outfit, so you only have to take off your shirt, and flat shoes, so you'll be more comfortable during the test.

During the mammogram:

• Shake your arms to release tension before the technician sets you up for the test.
• Go with the flow. A study led by Taplin found that cancers missed during mammography were more than twice as likely due to poor positioning. "So when the technician asks you to lean in so more of your breast can be seen, it might really make a difference," Taplin says. Ask the technician to adjust the height of the machine if you're standing on your toes, raising your shoulders, or flexing your back. You shouldn't have to be off balance for the technician to get a good image.
• Relax. Breathe deeply and exhale slowly between x-rays. And remember, it will all be over within a few minutes.

After the mammogram:

• Look for your results in the mail. The Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 requires that centers send patients a written report in easy- to-understand language within 30 days of the test. Suspicious results must be given even sooner. But don't assume no news is good news. Call and ask about your test results if you don't receive a notice after about 10 days.
• If you do receive an abnormal report, ask for a second review by a radiologist who reads at least 300 mammograms a month. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that experienced radiologists are better able to tell if a mammogram is normal than are radiologists who read relatively few mammograms. Plus, the low-volume radiologists may miss more cancers than radiologists who read many mammograms. (To retain certification, U.S. radiologists are only required to review 480 breast x-rays a year.) You can obtain "volume" information simply by asking how many mammograms each radiologist reads monthly; certified facilities are required to keep track.

Remember, a mammogram may be uncomfortable, but there are simple steps you can take to make this essential exam a more pleasant experience.