Ease into your first mammogram

When you turn 40, it’s recommended to start annual screening.

You get a lot of “firsts” out of the way early—like the first day of kindergarten or the first time driving a car. But for most women, another first comes later in life.

“We recommend beginning mammogram screening at age 40 and continuing to get them annually,” says Meghan Musser, DO, medical director of Kettering Breast Evaluation Centers. “If a patient has other risk factors, screening may begin earlier, which should be discussed with a doctor.”

Being prepared can ease anxiety about this new experience.

Think before you schedule

When requesting your appointment, try to avoid the week before your period. During this time, your breasts may be tender or sore, which could cause discomfort during testing, making it difficult to tolerate the positioning needed to get clear pictures.

As you get ready

■ Don’t put on deodorant. It could be seen on the X-ray image, so if you aren’t going home after your exam, bring it with you to apply afterward. Avoid any lotions, powders or ointments in the chest area.

■ Wear separate pieces of clothing. Since you will be asked to remove your shirt and bra for the exam, you may want to avoid dresses if you don’t want to be fully unclothed.

■ Make a list. Bring a list of any previous breast or diagnostic exams and where and when those occurred to help the radiologist understand your medical history.

■ Express your concerns. If you’re experiencing any pain, swelling or changes to the skin, a mammogram may not be the test for you. Talk to your doctor about these concerns before your appointment, because they may order a different test.

During the appointment

You will be asked to remove

clothing from the waist up and will be given a gown to wear. You will only expose one breast at a time. The technologist will help position your breast onto the machine, which will use two plates to compress the breast.

“The compression allows us to spread your breast tissue apart, which gives us a better view,” says Dr. Musser.

The mammography machine will take X-ray images that a radiologist will later examine to look for areas of abnormal tissue. The radiologist may order additional imaging or a biopsy if something looks abnormal.

Waiting for results

For some women, nervousness ceases as soon as they walk out the door. For others, fear of suspicious results lingers.

“It’s a very understandable fear,” Dr. Musser says. “But it’s a small number of women that get called back for more work-up, and even more rare for those women to have cancer.”

Dr. Musser urges women to get checked out. If there is an abnormality such as cancer, early detection allows women the best possible prognosis.