Your Mammogram

Your Mammogram Appointment

When you call for an appointment, the receptionist will ask if you have previously had a mammogram, and where. If you are planning to be away for an extended period, please try to book your appointment six weeks prior to departure to allow adequate time to receive your mammogram results and for any follow up that may be required.

On the day of your appointment, wear comfortable clothing that can easily be removed. Please do not use deodorants, antiperspirants, body lotions, or talcum powders, as metals in these products can show up on the X-ray picture. When you arrive for your appointment, a receptionist will register you and ask questions about your health history.

You will be shown to a change room and asked to remove clothing from the waist up. Wearing a two-piece outfit will make this easier. You will be given a gown to wear.

A medical radiation technologist will perform the mammogram. She will place your breasts, one at a time, on a flat plate. Another plate is then pressed firmly against your breast to help flatten out the breast tissue. Firm compression is needed to obtain high-quality images. Two x-rays of each breast are taken.

Tips for a Comfortable Mammogram

• Book your mammogram within two weeks after your menstrual period has ended, as your breasts are often less tender at this time.
• Inform the technologist if you feel pain. Working together with the technologist can make the mammogram as comfortable as possible.
• Breathe deeply and relax your chest muscles.

Understanding Your Mammogram Results

The Screening Program for Breast Cancer will notify you and your healthcare provider whether your mammogram was normal or whether you need a follow-up test.

What if my screening result is normal?

If the result of your mammogram is normal, you can return to the screening program for a mammogram in two years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you will be asked to return in one year. The screening program will send you a letter when it’s time to make your appointment.

What if my screening result is abnormal?

If the result of your mammogram is abnormal, you will receive a phone call from your healthcare provider or from the screening program’s nurse navigator. The nurse navigator is a registered nurse who will provide you with support and information about your result and the recommended follow-up tests. With your healthcare provider’s permission, the nurse navigator will also arrange for your follow-up appointments.

Can all breast cancers be seen on a mammogram?

A small number of breast cancers are not seen on a mammogram. Therefore, in addition to having regular screening mammograms, it is important to:

• Know how your breasts normally look and feel
• Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any changes in your breasts

For more information about your mammogram result, please contact your healthcare provider or a screening program nurse navigator toll-free at 1-855-584-8228.

If You Need Further Testing

The Screening Program for Breast Cancer's nurse navigator will arrange for your follow-up appointments, with your doctor or nurse practitioner's permission.

Most abnormal mammogram results are due to changes in the breast that are not cancer. Nine out of 10 women who require follow-up tests do not have cancer.

What follow-up tests will I need to have?

You may have:

• A diagnostic mammogram, which is an x-ray that uses special views to see breast tissue more clearly
• An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to determine between a cyst and other breast tissue

Your doctor or nurse practitioner may also do a clinical breast examination.

What if the follow-up test is abnormal?

Some women may need a further follow-up test called a biopsy, which removes breast tissue for testing.

There are three main types of biopsies:

• An ultrasound or stereotactic core biopsy uses a needle to remove breast tissue.
• A surgical biopsy removes breast tissue in the operating room or in a clinic.
• A fine needle aspiration uses a very thin needle to remove fluid or cells.

How will I know the results of my follow-up tests?

Your doctor or nurse practitioner will receive the results of your follow-up tests and help to arrange further care if it is needed.

What if my follow-up tests are normal?

If the results of your follow-up tests are normal, you can return to the screening program for regular screening mammograms. The screening program will send you a letter when it's time to make your appointment.

Your Next Mammogram

Women 50 years of age and over should have a mammogram every two years. Women who have a family history of breast cancer should have a mammogram every year.

The screening program will send you a letter when it’s time to make your appointment.

I have moved/I am planning to move. How do I make sure my letters come to my new address?

Please update your address by calling eHealth Saskatchewan toll free 1-800-667-7551, emailing change@ehealthsask.ca or online at www.ehealthsask.ca.

Can I choose not to participate in the screening program?

Yes, you can choose not to participate in the program. Please discuss your options with your healthcare provider before making a final decision. You can also contact us if you have additional questions.