WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

You will be given a gown and asked to remove neck jewelry and clothing from the waist up. To make this easier, wear a two-piece outfit that day. For the procedure itself, you stand in front of an X-ray machine specially designed for mammography. The Radiographer places one of your breasts on a platform and raises or lowers the platform to match your height. The Radiographer helps you position your head, arms and torso to allow an unobstructed view of your breast.

Your breast is gradually pressed against the platform by a clear plastic plate. Pressure is applied for a few seconds to spread out the breast tissue. Your breast must be compressed to even out its thickness and permit the X-rays to penetrate the breast tissue. The pressure also holds your breast still to decrease blurring from movement. During the brief X-ray exposure, you’ll be asked to stand still and hold your breath.