1. Get regular exams

This is the most important way you can protect your breast health.

• Get a breast exam from your doctor when you get your regular physical exam.
• Get a mammogram as often as your doctor recommends. Ask your doctor when to schedule your next mammogram.
• Check your breasts each month. Your doctor can show you how.

These three exams can help you and your doctor learn what is normal for your breasts and what may be signs of problems.

2. Choose a quality facility

Many hospitals, clinics, and imaging or x-ray centers perform mammography. Mobile units (often vans) offer screening at shopping malls, community centers, and offices. All of these facilities must meet the same quality standards.

Your doctor may refer you to a mammography facility. Or you may select the one that is most convenient for you.

Make sure the mammography facility you choose is certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unless it is a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility.

A new law, called the Mammography Quality Standards Act, requires all mammography facilities except those of VHA to be FDA certified beginning October 1, 1994. To be certified, facilities must meet standards for the equipment they use, the people who work there, and the records they keep. VHA has its own high-quality mammography program, similar to FDA's.

If the facility is not FDA certified, get your mammogram in a facility that is certified.

To find a certified mammography facility, ask your doctor or call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service toll free at 800-4-CANCER.

3. Schedule the mammogram for when your breasts will be least tender

During mammography, the breast is pressed between two clear plastic plates for a few seconds. This gives a clear picture of the breast with the least amount of x-rays. But it may be uncomfortable, and a few women complain of some pain.

If you have sensitive breasts, try having your mammogram at a time of month when your breasts will be least tender. Try to avoid the week right before your period. This will help to lessen discomfort.

4. Give and get important information when you schedule the mammogram

When you call for an appointment, be ready to provide information the mammography facility needs to know. The facility may wait until your appointment to ask some questions, so it's a good idea also to take the information with you when you have your mammogram. The information requested may include:

• Your name, address, and phone number.
• Your age.
• Name, address, and phone number of any facility where you have had a mammogram.
• Any breast disease in your family.
• Any current problems with your breasts, and how long you have had the problems.
• Past problems with your breasts, breast biopsies, or breast surgeries.
• Whether you have breast implants.
• Other personal information:

  • Whether you are pregnant or nursing.
  • The timing of your menstrual cycle or when menopause began.
  • Anything that might make it harder to do a mammogram (unusually large breasts or inability to stand, for example).
• Name, address, and phone number of your doctor.

Here are some questions for you to ask before your appointment:

• How and when you will find out the results of the exam.
• What you need to do to prepare for the exam. (See page 8 of this booklet for more information.)

If you have any other questions before your mammogram, be sure to call your doctor or the mammography facility.

5. Know what to expect

Understanding what happens during a mammogram will help reduce any anxious feelings you might have. It is important to know that only a small amount of radiation is used in mammography.

When you have a mammogram, you stand in front of a special x-ray machine. The radiologic technologist lifts each breast and places it on a platform that holds the x-ray film. The platform can be raised or lowered to match your height.

The breast is then gradually pressed against the platform by a specially designed clear plastic plate. Some pressure is needed for a few seconds to make sure the x-rays show as much of the breast as possible.

This pressure is not harmful to your breast. In fact, flattening the breast lowers the x-ray dose needed.

Studies show that most women do not find a mammogram painful for the short time needed to take the picture. Try to relax. If the pressure becomes painful, you can tell the radiologic technologist to stop.

If there is an area of your breast that appears to have a problem, the radiologist or radiologic technologist may examine the breast.

6. Come prepared

• Wear a two-piece outfit so you will have to remove only your top.
• Don't use deodorant, talcum powder, or lotion under your arms or near the breasts that day. These products can show up on the x-ray picture.
• Bring the name, address, and phone number of your doctor or other health care provider.
• Bring a list of the places and dates of mammograms, biopsies, or other breast treatment you have had before.
• Ask the facilities where you had mammograms before to release them to you, and bring them with you if possible. Your new mammogram can be compared with the earlier ones to see if there have been any changes.

It also may be helpful to:

• Bring a list of any questions you may have about mammography and your mammograms.
• If you think you may have trouble hearing or understanding the instructions, consider bringing a friend or family member to help you.
• If you are worried about discomfort, you may want to take a mild over-the-counter pain reliever about an hour before your mammogram. This will not affect the mammogram.

If there is something you do not understand, ask. And keep asking until all your questions are answered.

7. Follow up on your results.

Learning the results of your mammogram is very important.

Chances are your mammogram will be normal. But do not assume that your mammogram is normal just because you have not received the results. If you have not received your screening results within 10 days, ask your doctor or call the mammography facility.

If your screening mammogram shows anything unusual, talk to your doctor as soon as possible about what you should do next. Your doctor may schedule a diagnostic mammogram, or you can schedule it yourself-but have it done soon. Discuss the results with your doctor.

When a diagnostic mammogram shows something abnormal, the radiologist may recommend another type of exam. A biopsy is a way to obtain a small piece of breast tissue for study under a microscope. Sometimes a biopsy is needed because of something your doctor found in checking your breast even though the mammogram appears normal.

Whenever a mammogram uncovers a problem or a need to check something further:

• Make sure you understand what you need to do next.
• Always get results of any test that you have.
• Ask questions about your results if something is hard to understand.

If you do not have a doctor or other health care provider, you will need to find one if you have an abnormal mammogram. Ask the mammography facility to help you find a doctor. Then make an appointment right away so you can discuss your results and what should be done next.

Mammography is very effective, but it does not detect all breast problems. If you find something unusual in your breast, see your doctor.