What are some tips I can follow for my next mammogram procedure?
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Schedule the mammogram after your period
- Prepare a two-piece outfit
- Leave the jewelry at home
- Avoid wearing deodorant on the day itself
- Take pain medication
Most women only remember the feeling of discomfort and pain during their first mammogram. However, this should not stop you from getting screened again, especially if required by your gynecologist.
This article provides you with tips to prepare for your next mammogram. Remember that this is an important procedure that can help with detecting breast cancer at its earliest stages. So, continuing with the procedure is beneficial to you and your health in the long run. Don’t let feelings of anxiety and fear stop you from skipping your next scheduled appointment.
Reduce caffeine intake
With your next mammogram coming up, it’s advised to reduce or cut the caffeine intake a few days before the procedure. Caffeine doesn’t have any effect on the mammogram’s results, but cutting back on it can make you feel more comfortable during the procedure.
Caffeine does not only mean coffee. This includes other beverages containing caffeine like soda, tea, and other kinds of energy drinks.
You should reduce your intake of these beverages before your appointment because caffeine can cause breast tenderness (especially if you’re sensitive to the effects of caffeine).
However, you should not let this affect your regular intake of food and water. Before your appointment, make sure to eat a good meal and drink enough water, so that you’re comfortable during the mammogram.
Schedule the mammogram after your period
Just like caffeine, your monthly period won’t have any effect on the results of the mammogram. However, you should consider the date of your period when setting your appointment.
Many women often experience swelling and tenderness on their breasts a week before and on the week of their period. Getting a mammogram at this time can make this examination turn out to be painful and uncomfortable.
Schedule your appointment a week after your period. This way, you are assured that this procedure is a more pleasant experience.
Prepare a two-piece outfit
Avoid wearing one-piece outfits like jumpsuits, dresses, and rompers during a mammogram. As you learned during your first mammogram, you’ll need to remove your top and bra for the test. Wearing one-piece ensembles means that you’ll just be left in your underwear and the provided robe.
Make your mammogram a more comfortable experience by wearing a two-piece outfit. Whether it be joggers and a shirt or leggings and a blouse, make sure to wear two pieces of outerwear, so that you’re left wearing your bottoms during the whole procedure.
In addition to that, wear your most comfortable shoes. Skip the high heels for this test since you’ll be standing up for almost 30 minutes. You’ll also be asked to adjust your stance by leaning forwards and backward to get better positioning.
Always put your comfort first when thinking of what to wear during your next appointment.
Leave the jewelry at home
Skip on accessories during this procedure. This includes necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Wearing them during a mammogram can alter the results.
Accessories, especially necklaces and earrings, can appear on the image created during the procedure. It ends up blocking the breast tissue behind it. This will make it difficult for the radiologist to read and interpret your results.
If you have nipple jewelry or piercings, we advise you to ask your doctor if you’ll need to remove them for your mammogram.
Avoid wearing deodorant on the day itself
Skip on wearing deodorants and antiperspirants and anything you apply to your body from your neck downwards. This includes lotions, creams, powder foundation, and powder bronzers. This is another item that can alter the results of your mammogram.
When you wear these products during the mammogram, they can appear on the x-ray produced as calcification (white spots), pseudo-lesions, and other abnormalities.
This should not stop you from using your bathing products on the day of the test. Taking a bath and using shampoo and soap will not alter the results of the mammogram in any way.
Take pain medication
What many about their mammogram experience is the pain and discomfort felt during the procedure. This should not stop you from having it done especially when it is needed.
An hour before the procedure, you can take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, which can ease your feeling of discomfort during the tests.
Remember that it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking a new medication.
Key Takeaway
Anxiety can easily take over you as your next scheduled mammogram approaches. However, you should also help yourself relax and prepare for this procedure by following the tips for your next mammogram. Most of these focus on helping you feel comfortable, so focus on this since it is possible to relax during the entire procedure.
If you’re looking for a trusted hospital for your next mammogram, you can schedule an appointment at Perpetual Help Medical Center-Las Pinas (PHMC-LP)’s Women’s Healthcare and Diagnostic Center. We have the state-of-the-art 3D Mammography or Digital Breast Tomosynthesis that can detect lumps at the earliest stage. Don’t hesitate to contact us here.
