Preparing For Mammogram

How should you prepare?
1>If possible, you should schedule your test for the week after your period, and not before or during period, since your breasts may be tender.

2>Do not wear talcum powder,lotion or deodorant under your arms or on your breast on the day of the exam. These can appear on the mammogram as calcium spots.

3>Describe any symptoms or problems related breast to the technologist performing the exam.

I tell patients to schedule the mammo just at the end of menses or shortly thereafter so it doesn't hurt so much. Try a morning appt and do not use deodorant, lotion, or powder as it sometimes can show up as calcifications [which are really on the skin but the radiologist can't tell]. This could result in a call back and unnecessarily upset you. Bring your deodorant with you and put it on after your mammo. And lastly don't assume that "no news is good news". If you haven't gotten a letter in a couple of weeks, call the doctor who ordered the mammo to get results. Human error happens.