What should i expect from a baseline digital mammogram?

Satisfaction...: ...That you have taken a proactive step to check for breast cancer before it is palpable, significantly increasing your chance for cure. Mammograms are screening tests, meaning that they will find many "false alarms" at the expense of not missing cancers. As often as 5-10% of the time, you will be asked to come back for a closer look, ultrasound, etc--don't be alarmed--better safe than...

A report: Most mammogram reports are fine and you will be advised to do annual follow up (after age 40). If there is a finding that looks benign but the radiologist still has slight concern, you may be asked to repeat it in 6 month. If there is a higher degree of suspicion a biopsy may be recommended. Sometimes additional images and/or an ultrasound may be suggested. A clinical exam is also needed.

Mammo: The tech will ask you to stand facing the mammo machine, and place one breast at a time on a flat surface.A flat compression paddle will gently be lowered to compress your breast. Compression spreads out the breast tissue and eliminates motion.The compression may be uncomfortable,but shouldn't hurt. Compression usually lasts no more than a few seconds. 2 views of each breast are obtained.