The Basics Of A Mammogram

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. It can detect breast tumors before they grow large enough to be felt or seen during a breast self-exam or a clinical breast exam. During your mammogram, you will be asked to remove clothing, jewelry, and anything else that could interfere with the procedure. One at a time, your breasts will be gently flattened between two surfaces so that more of the breast tissue can be seen in the x-ray image. Few women will tell you that mammogram screening is fun, but this should not discourage you. The discomfort of having your breasts momentarily squashed for their photo shoot is a small price to pay for the peace of mind you will have when the mammogram most likely reveals that your breasts are normal. And in the rather unlikely event that the mammogram does detect an abnormality, the brief discomfort of the procedure could very well save your life.