A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray that can detect abnormalities in the breast, even when they may be too small for you and your doctor to feel or see.

Screening Mammograms are used as a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms. Diagnostic mammograms are used to detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms such as a lump, pain, skin dimpling or nipple discharge.

A technologist specializing in mammography will place a woman’s breast on a special X-ray machine. Two pictures are taken of each breast. Additional views are taken if needed. For most women, the total time it takes to get a mammogram is less than a few minutes.

Current guidelines from the American College of Radiology (ACR) recommend screening mammography every year for women, beginning at age 40.  Screening mammography reduces breast cancer mortality by more than 40% in women aged 40 years and older.

Mammography is the most effective screening approach for the early detection of breast cancer in most women. Early detection can reduce deaths from breast cancer because:

1. There is a better chance of treating the cancer successfully
2. It is less likely to spread
3. There may be more treatment options

Not all cancers found at screening can be cured. However, regular mammograms for women aged 50 to 74 years reduce the risk of fatality from this disease dying from breast cancer.

Mammograms can be painful for a few women; however, there are ways to reduce discomfort during mammograms. The most frequently reported cause of pain is compression. Some patients also complain of discomfort caused by the edges of the image receptor. At Mammocare™, we use specially designed MammoPad cushions to reduce this discomfort and make this experience as painless as possible. Studies show that the softer mammogram provided by the MammoPad cushion reduces discomfort by 50% for three out of four women.

Breast tomosynthesis, also called three-dimensional (3D) mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), is an advanced form of breast imaging. Multiple images of the breast are captured from varying angles and reconstructed ("synthesized") into a 3D image set. 3D breast imaging is quite similar to computed tomography (CT) imaging in which a series of thin "slices" are assembled together to create a 3D reconstruction of the body.

Breast tomosynthesis may also result in:

• earlier detection of small breast cancers that may be hidden on a conventional mammogram especially in dense breasts
• greater accuracy in assessing the morphology and location of breast abnormalities
• fewer unnecessary biopsies or additional tests
• greater incidence of detecting multiple breast tumours
• This type of mammogram may be a good opinion for women with dense breast tissue. It makes cancers easy for the radiologist to see. At Mammocare™, we perform tomosynthesis for our patients at the cost of 2D mammograms.

The examination process usually takes about 30 minutes. Two pictures are taken of each breast. Additional images are acquired if necessary. For most women, the time it takes to get a mammogram is less than a few minutes.

Dr. Tanvi Jakhi is one of the leading fellowship-trained radiologists in India. She will personally perform your breast ultrasound and interpret the mammograms. She will also discuss the results with you. The reports will be available the next day and will be available at the reception desk.

Follow-up examinations may be necessary. Sometimes a follow-up exam may be necessary so that any change in a known abnormality can be monitored over time. If there is an abnormal finding that needs biopsy, Dr. Jakhi will personally discuss the results with you and your referring physician prior to performing the biopsy.

Yes. When making an appointment for a mammogram, you should ask if the facility uses special techniques designed to accommodate them. Our facility has experienced technologists and a dedicated breast radiologist equipped to handle mammograms in women with breast implants.

The best time for a mammogram is one week following your period. Always inform your doctor or X-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.

• Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the mammogram. These can appear on the mammogram as calcium spots and artefacts.
• Describe any breast symptoms and problems to the technologist and radiologist performing the exam.
• Obtain your prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist if they were done at a different location. This is crucial for comparison with your current exam and can often be obtained on a CD if films are not available.