Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
Deodorant, perfume, powders, or ointments applied to the breasts or under the arms before the test. They may interfere with the X-ray pictures.
Breast implants or scar tissue from previous breast surgery. This may make a mammogram harder to interpret.
A mammogram is not usually done if you are:
Pregnant, because the radiation could damage your developing baby (fetus). If a mammogram is absolutely needed for diagnosing a problem, a lead apron will be placed over your abdomen to shield your baby from exposure to the X-rays.
Breast-feeding, because breasts that contain milk are very difficult to examine.
What To Think About
Most abnormalities found during a mammogram are not breast cancer. But many women who have regular screening mammograms need more tests to investigate any abnormalities found during a mammogram. If an area of your breast tissue appears to be a concern during a mammogram, other tests such as an ultrasound may be done.
Mammogram results are harder to interpret in women before menopause because breast tissue in younger women is denser than in older women. Mammograms may be less accurate in obese women.
A digital mammogram allows your doctor to view different parts of the breast without taking more images. Digital mammograms have the same overall accuracy as standard mammograms. The procedure in which a digital mammogram is done is the same as a standard mammogram-each procedure takes about the same amount of time, and breast compression is needed for both. Images from a digital mammogram can be magnified and stored electronically.
A digital mammogram may be done along with digital breast tomosynthesis to make a three-dimensional picture of the breast.
If you come from a family where women have had breast cancer earlier than age 40, talk to your doctor about what age to start screening. If you have a very strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, you may want to have a breast cancer (BRCA) gene test. To learn more, see the topic Breast Cancer (BRCA) Gene Test.