{"id":2775,"date":"2022-04-13T17:52:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T17:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pockethealthqa.wpengine.com\/?p=2775"},"modified":"2025-05-09T16:02:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T20:02:49","slug":"a-radiologists-guide-to-getting-a-mammogram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/patient-resources\/a-radiologists-guide-to-getting-a-mammogram\/","title":{"rendered":"A radiologist\u2019s guide to getting a mammogram"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Ania Kielar, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Radiologists and vice-chair of the University of Toronto\u2019s department of medical imaging, explains what a mammogram is and how it helps in the early detection of cancer.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What is a mammogram?<\/strong>
\nA mammogram is a screening test that uses X-rays to detect cancer. During the procedure, each breast is compressed between two plates, horizontally and then vertically, for about 10 to 15 seconds while images are taken. \u201cThey\u2019re three-dimensional structures that we\u2019re trying to make two-dimensional,\u201d Dr. Kielar says. \u201cWe take two images of each breast so we can see it from the front and the side. If you see a picture head on, you can\u2019t tell exactly what\u2019s going on until you look sideways to see what it is you\u2019re actually seeing.\u201d<\/p>\n

What does a mammogram show?<\/strong>
\nMammograms produce black-and-white images that radiologists examine for signs of cancer. Dense objects, such as bones or tumours, appear white on an X-ray, while soft tissues, such as skin, fat and muscle, look grey. \u201cIt\u2019s basically all these different shades of grey,\u201d Dr. Kielar says. \u201cA woman\u2019s breasts can be very dense, so they appear all white like a snowstorm, or they can be almost all fat and look black. The ones that are all fat make it much easier to find cancer. Cancer has a sort of grey or white colour. If somebody has dense breast tissue then it\u2019s already a background of white so it makes it really hard to find cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

How long does a mammogram take?<\/strong>
\n\u201cOnly a few minutes,\u201d Dr. Kielar says. \u201cAs long as it takes to squish a breast and take two pictures and then do the other breast.\u201d<\/p>\n

How can patients prepare for a mammogram?<\/strong>
\nAge guidelines vary for the procedure, so patients should talk to their doctor about when they need to start getting mammograms. While some feel age 50 is appropriate, most radiologists believe the process should begin 10 years earlier, at age 40, as younger women tend to get more aggressive cancers. Women who are still of menstrual age should avoiding booking the procedure just before their period as their breasts may be more sensitive.<\/p>\n

If they are going for their first mammogram, they should also be aware that their likelihood for being called back for additional images is higher than after the second, third or fourth time. \u201cWe don\u2019t want them to feel anxious if they get called back,\u201d Dr. Kielar says. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at subtle things in the breast and if you don\u2019t have anything to compare it to we like to be safe rather than sorry. If there\u2019s something concerning we\u2019ll do a biopsy. But even if you\u2019re having a biopsy there\u2019s still a really good chance that it\u2019s nothing, so women need to be aware of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that, according to the American Cancer Society, only about two to four screening mammograms out of 1,000 result in a cancer diagnosis. Our job is to try to find stuff early on and if we find something that\u2019s looks a little bit different, we have to investigate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is there anything patients should do after a mammogram?<\/strong>
\n\u201cThey can go about their day,\u201d Dr. Kielar says. \u201cThey just need to follow up with their family physician to make sure they get the results.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are there any concerns or risks that accompany a mammogram?<\/strong>
\nMammograms are generally safe with any risks from the low levels of radiation outweighed by the benefits of the procedure.<\/p>\n

How long does it take for results to come back?<\/strong>
\nTypically, two to three days.<\/p>\n

Has the pandemic changed the way mammograms are performed?<\/strong>
\nMany mammography clinics were forced to close during the first wave of COVID-19 and again during the rise of the omicron variant. \u201cWait lists have gone up significantly,\u201d Dr. Kielar says. \u201cI don\u2019t know how much they\u2019ve caught up \u2014 it\u2019s been tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Ania Kielar, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Radiologists and vice-chair of the University of Toronto\u2019s department of medical imaging, explains what a mammogram is and how it helps in the early detection of cancer. What is a mammogram? A mammogram is a screening test that uses X-rays to detect cancer. During the procedure, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":2776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[17],"table_tags":[],"class_list":["post-2775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-knowledge-bank","tag-pockethealth"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA radiologist\u2019s guide to getting a mammogram | PocketHealth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/patient-resources\/a-radiologists-guide-to-getting-a-mammogram\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A radiologist\u2019s guide to getting a mammogram | PocketHealth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dr. Ania Kielar, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Radiologists and vice-chair of the University of Toronto\u2019s department of medical imaging, explains what a mammogram is and how it helps in the early detection of cancer. 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