The Breast Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

A: The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a lump in the breast, an abnormal thickening of the breast or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. You should see a doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms:

Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast
Change in breast size or shape
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
Pulling in of the nipple
Nipple discharge that starts suddenly and appears only in one breast
An itchy, sore, or scaling area on one nipple

Q: What categorizes a woman as having an increased risk for breast cancer?

A: There are certain characteristics (genetic, environmental and behavioral) which can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. Having these characteristics or exposures does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. It does, however, guide healthcare providers in the education and screening of certain women. The following characteristics have been found to be associated with a higher incidence of breast cancer:

One or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer
Early menstruation (before age 13)
Childbearing at a late age (after 30), or no childbearing at all
Late menopause (after age 55)
Past or present use of post menopausal hormone replacement therapy (including estrogens and/or progestins)
Previous DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) or atypical hyperplasia
Alchohol use (1 or more drinks daily)
Past or present use of tobacco
Diet low in fruits and vegetables
Personal history of breast cancer

Q: Does Randolph Hospital have the new equipment with no compression?

A: We do have the new full-field digital mammography equipment, however, the technologist must still use compression. There is not a way to perform a mammogram without compression. Every mammogram conducted uses compression.

Q: How do I schedule my mammogram?

A: You may contact the Breast Center of Randolph Hospital directly or be referred by your physician. Appointments are available weekdays and evenings, Monday through Friday. Please call 328-3333 for appointments. The Breast Center of Randolph Hospital is located within the new Randolph Hospital Outpatient Center.

Q: Will I receive the results of my mammogram today?

A: If you are here for a "screening" mammogram you will receive your results in the mail within 7-10 business days. If you are coming in because you have a problem with your breasts or the radiologist has recommended that you return for a diagnostic mammogram, then the radiologist will speak to you about the results of your tests.

Q: How long will my appointment take?

A: A screening mammogram appointment should take about 15 minutes after you have registered. A diagnostic (problematic) mammogram could take up to an hour after you have registered and if the results from your diagnostic mammogram indicate the need for additional tests such as an ultrasound and possibly a biopsy, then you could be here for 3 hours.

Q: Why do I have to remove my deodorant and/or powder before having my mammogram done?

A: The particles from deodorant and/or powder can mimic micro-calcifications. Micro-calcifications can be indicative of breast cancer.

Q: I had my last mammogram somewhere else. Do I need to have my films sent here?

A: Yes, you can bring them with you when you come for your appointment which prevents any delays. We will be glad to send for them, however, it can take up to 2 weeks to receive the films, which delays the reading of your mammogram.

Q: What does it mean if I get called back for a diagnostic mammogram after my screening mammogram?

A: Many mammograms are read as "abnormal." In the United States, 1 in 10 screening mammograms results in the patient being called back for further testing. A woman who gets a mammogram every year for 10 years will have about a 50% chance of being called back at least once.

Each abnormal mammogram requires a follow-up visit to the Breast Center. Generally, a woman is asked to return for different mammogram views to better show the breast tissue. Sometimes an ultrasound is also performed.

Most patients (90-95%) have no sign of breast cancer upon further evaluation. Of the patients called back, a very small percentage will need to have a biopsy. The majority of breast biopsies are benign. Until we do the extra evaluation, we don't know which patients have a real problem and which ones do not.

Q: My physician found a lump in my breast, can I come anytime for my mammogram?

A: No. You will be scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram on a Mon, Wed, or Thurs. when there is a radiologist present. This is so the radiologist can view your images and make sure that you have everything that needs to be done for an accurate diagnosis before you leave that day.

Q: Do you have the mammogram machine that you lie down on and it has a hole in it?

A: We have a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy unit. The patient will lie down on their stomach and the breast will go into the hole in the table so the radiologist and technologist can obtain specimens of the area concerned. Compression is used for this procedure in order to maintain stability. This is not a screening mammography machine.

Q: Why is it important to have a breast exam done by my physician? Doesn't a mammogram show them everything they need?

A: Having a breast exam done by your physician is a good idea before having your annual mammogram. Clinical breast examination may detect some tumors not seen through mammography. Since some women will get breast cancer before the age of 40, when their first mammogram is done, clinical breast examinations may aid in detecting some cancers. Clinical breast examinations also have limitations since very tiny and/or deeply situated nodules (tumors) cannot always be felt even by a doctor. The combination of screening methods, clinical breast exam and mammography, is currently recommended as the best approach to early detection of breast cancer.

Q: When should I start having a mammogram?

A: The American Cancer Society recommends that ladies have a baseline mammogram starting at the age of 40.

Q: My doctor said I need a spot compression view, what is that?

A: A spot compression view is a specialized picture of a specific area of the breast. The compression paddle is smaller and focused to the specific area of interest in the breast.

Q: Why do you have to compress my breast for a mammogram?

A: Compression is important because it spreads the breast tissue out to see the details of the tissue more clearly. It reduces the amount of radiation that you receive during the procedure and reduces any breathing motion during the exposure.

Q: A mammogram always hurts me. Why can't I have an ultrasound instead?

A: Ultrasound is not a screening tool. Ultrasound can not always visualize everything that is seen on a mammogram. Breast ultrasound is used to investigate an abnormality detected by screening or diagnostic mammography or during a physician performed breast exam.