Making your mammogram more comfortable
Understand Your Next Mammogram
 
Making your mammogram more comfortable

A mammogram exam may not be pleasant, but it is the best tool out there for lowering your risk of developing breast cancer. Still, many women have stopped getting their yearly exam. Researchers have seen a significant decrease in mammogram use: Between 2000 and 2005 the number of women getting screened dropped seven percent among women between the ages of 50 and 64. Although there are many possible reasons for this, such as cost and insurance issues, some women simply avoid booking their yearly exam because they're worried about discomfort. Here are some final words on making your next test painless:

  • Schedule your mammography screening during the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle, when there is the least amount of breast tenderness
  • Avoid tea, coffee, soda and other caffeinated drinks the week before as caffeine can contribute to tender breasts
  • Find a hospital that is a Softer Mammogram Provider for a softer diagnostic test
  • Take a painkiller before the exam to ease discomfort

    NEXT: MORE ON BREAST HEALTH >>

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