Mammograms: What to Know Before Your First (or Twentieth!)

On Health with Houston Methodist

Milestone birthdays come with new rights and responsibilities. At 18, we can vote; at 21, we can drink; and at 40, women can get their first mammogram. Adding a potentially stressful cancer screening to your yearly to-do list (on top of everything else women manage) doesn't sound like much of a gift — but getting a mammogram is crucial to detecting breast cancer early, when it's easier to treat. In this episode, we explore what getting a mammogram (and the potential dreaded callback) is really like so you can feel confident about your first, fifth or twentieth.
Expert: Dr. Ainel Sewell, Breast Imaging Radiologist
Notable topics covered:

• Why mammogram is the gold standard for detecting breast cancer
• When (and how often) you should get a mammogram — and the criteria to start before age 40
• The surprising conditions a mammogram can detect besides breast cancer
• Know before you go: the time commitment, prep and whether you should schedule around your period
• What a mammogram is like — from the time you step into the waiting room until the time you leave
• How painful is getting a mammogram, really?
• Do women with breast implants need to approach mammograms differently?
• Is it common to get a callback — or be recalled — after your first mammogram?
• Why consistency is key with mammograms (including where you get one)
• You get a callback. How that "callback" appointment may go and the additional imaging that may be needed
• You discover you have dense breast tissue or a benign breast condition. What's next?
• What to expect if something suspicious is detected and you need a biopsy
• Anxious or nervous about a mammogram? Why you're in good hands at a breast center

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