
What You Need to Know to Prepare for a Mammogram
As we’re coming off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important that people take the necessary precautions all year round to check for signs and symptoms of breast cancer. One of the most common screening tests performed on individuals is mammography. These are the questions we most commonly get about screening tests and mammography.
What is mammography?
Mammography is the primary tool used to detect and screen for breast cancer and other problems in that area of the female body. Mammography uses x-ray technology to view the interior of the breasts and create an image called a mammogram. A physician called a radiologist will then read and interpret those images. Mammography is done for one of two reasons:- It can be used as a screening test to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease.
- It may be used as a diagnostic test to check lumps or other symptoms that have been found either in a self-breast exam or by an OBGYN or other health care provider.