Mammogram

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A mammogram (MAM-o-gram) is an x-ray of your breasts. It can help find early cancers that are too small to be felt during a breast self-exam. It can also be done to check a lump that was found during a breast self-exam or medical checkup. If caregivers learn from a mammogram that you have breast cancer, they can start treatment quickly. Talk to your caregiver about mammograms and when you should have them.

INSTRUCTIONS:

What happens after my mammogram?

• Your breasts may feel tender for a short while after the mammogram. You may do all your regular activities right after the mammogram.
  
  
• Some experts suggest that women 40 years of age and older should have a mammogram every year. Other experts suggest that women between the ages of 50 and 74 years old should have a mammogram every two years. Talk to your caregiver about when you should have another mammogram.

How can I find out if my mammogram was okay?

If you have not heard about your mammogram results within ten days, call your caregiver. Ask if your mammogram is normal. If it is not, you may need to start treatment or have more tests done right away. You should also receive a mammogram report in the mail within 30 days after your mammogram.

What is a breast self-exam?

You may want to do breast self-exams (BSE). Doing BSEs can help you learn what your breasts normally look and feel like. Knowing what is normal for your breasts can help you quickly know when breasts changes happen. Breast changes may be swelling, lumps, or dimpling, scaling, and redness of the breast or nipple. Some other changes are pain, nipple discharge (that is not breast milk), and nipples that begin to pull inward. Call a caregiver right away if you have any breast changes that you think may not be normal. Do this even if you have just recently had a mammogram. Ask your caregiver to give you information about how to do a BSE.

Where can I get a free or low cost mammogram?

Contact the following organization for information.

• The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
  4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-64
  Atlanta , GA 30341
  Phone: 1- 800- - 232-4636
  Web Address: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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