ARE MAMMOGRAMS PAINFUL?
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A MAMMOGRAM
KEEP GETTING
CANCER SCREENINGS
STAYING HEALTHY IS PART OF STAYING SAFE.
We’ve all spent the past few months taking extra precautions in order to stay safe. But right
now, staying healthy is just as important. That’s why we’ve made it safer than ever to return
for necessary cancer screenings like mammograms, prostate screenings, pap smears and
colonoscopies—because finding cancer early offers your best chance for a positive outcome.
HackensackMeridianHealth.org/GetCancerCareNow.
TheJournalNJ.com | OCTOBER 2020 29
For women, mammograms are a key step in
keeping themselves and their breasts healthy.
However, if you haven’t had a mammogram
before, knowing what to expect can help alleviate
fears you might have about discomfort.
WHAT IS A MAMMOGRAM?
A mammogram is a type of X-ray that produces
images of breast tissue. Radiologists examine
the images to determine if there are abnormal
areas in the breast tissue that could be indicators
of cancer. The procedure only takes about twenty
minutes. During a mammogram, the breast
rests on a plate, and a paddle will compress
the breast against the plate to spread out and
immobilize the tissue. This allows for a clearer
image and the lowest possible radiation dose. The results of
routine screening mammograms are usually available to the
patients within a few days.
HOW TO MAKE MAMMOGRAMS MORE COMFORTABLE
Mammograms are noninvasive and safe but some women may
experience minor discomfort and many experience anxiety.
Bokran Won, M.D., director of the Women’s Center at
Bayshore Medical Center, says the timing of your mammogram
may help reduce the chance of pain. “Try not to schedule your
mammogram for the week before or during your period,” she says.
“Breasts can be swollen or tender during this time, which could
make the mammogram more uncomfortable. Many experienced
mammography technologists can work with patients to minimize
discomfort from compression and lessen the
anxiety level. Our goal is to get the highestquality
imaging with little or no discomfort.”
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T WAIT
Dr. Won explains that mammography is
not often painful but can be uncomfortable
for some women, but the potential benefits
of the test outweigh any possible discomfort
it may cause. “Mammography is the only
screening tool that has been proven to reduce
mortality from breast cancer,” she says. “There
are additional screening tools, such as breast
ultrasound and breast MRI with contrast that
can improve cancer detection rates, especially
in women with dense breasts.”
Dr. Won agrees with the guidelines to start screening
mammography annually at age 40 for average-risk women, as
recommended by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the
Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and the American Society of Breast
Surgeons (ASBrS). More recently, ACR and SBI have recommended
that all women starting age 30 should consider risk assessment. “I
believe that breast cancer risk assessment results will help guide
women and their physicians in developing informed personalized
plans,” Dr. Won says.
Learn more about our Women’s Center at
BayshoreMedicalCenter.org/Womens
/GetCancerCareNow
/TheJournalNJ.com
/Womens