Wondering how to prepare for a mammogram? You'll be relieved to hear that the list of exercises that includes squeezing your breasts between the refrigerator doors is just a joke. Your breasts are mainly fatty and glandular tissue, not muscle. Most "breast exercises" actually target the underlying pectoral muscles of the chest that support the breasts, and you don't need to exercise these muscles before a mammogram. There are, however, steps you can take to make your mammogram appointment more comfortable and your results more accurate.
Types
There are two types of mammograms: screening and diagnostic. A screening mammogram is a routine mammogram for asymptomatic women designed to detect breast cancer in its early stages when it is most treatable. The technician will take separate images of each breast from the top and from the side. Women experiencing symptoms or those whose screening mammograms detected abnormalities will undergo diagnostic mammograms as part of the diagnostic process. Diagnostic mammograms might involve magnified images or alternate views of the area of concern.
Physical Demands
The physical demands placed on you during a mammogram will be minimal. Most women stand during their mammogram, leaning slightly forward, with their arms by their sides or raised as directed by the technician. If you have problems standing or raising your arms, talk with the mammography center when scheduling your appointment so they can prepare to accommodate your needs.
Physical Preparation
You don't need to exercise for your mammogram, but you should still prepare physically for your appointment. Do not use body lotion, powder, deodorant or antiperspirant on the day of your appointment. In the completed mammogram, minerals in these products can look like calcium deposits in the breast. Consider wearing a two-piece outfit so that you only need to undress from the waist up.
Personal Comfort
The compression used during a mammogram is at the heart of most of the humorous mammogram exercise suggestions. During a mammogram, breast tissue is compressed between the imaging cassette and a compression paddle. Compression spreads the breast tissue, improving image quality and reducing the amount of radiation needed. Compression is brief and gradual, and most women do not find the experience painful. Some women, however, do find the experience uncomfortable. If you experience breast tenderness or discomfort before your period, schedule your screening mammogram for the week after your period to reduce potential discomfort. If caffeine makes your breasts more tender, avoid or decrease caffeine in the days leading up to your appointment.
Special Considerations
If you are breastfeeding, you can still have a mammogram. Notify the imaging center when you make your appointment, and choose an imaging center with a radiologist experienced in reading mammograms of breastfeeding women. Nurse your baby just before your appointment. If you have breast implants, tell the imaging center when you make your appointment. If you wear nipple jewelry, ask the imaging center when you make your appointment if your jewelry will need to be removed.
