20 minutes can save your life. Get a mammogram.

Mammograms can find breast cancer long before you or your doctor would be able to feel a lump in your breast. While breast self-exams are important, you may not feel any changes until a sizable lump has formed. By the time that happens, breast cancer is already growing, spreading, and harder to treat.

While mammograms can’t prevent breast cancer, they can help detect it early when there are more treatment options—and before it spreads to other parts of the body. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected while still contained to the breast, the survival rate is 99%.

When breast cancer is detected early, you may not need a mastectomy, or surgical removal of the affected breast(s). Instead, a procedure called a lumpectomy may be used to remove only the cancerous tumor while preserving the healthy tissue around it.

The older you get, the more you’re at risk of developing breast cancer. That’s why mammograms aren’t a one-and-done test. It’s important to get screened for breast cancer every year, starting at the age of 40.

Women without a family history of breast cancer aren’t necessarily in the clear. About 85% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. So even if no one in your family has had breast cancer, you’re still at risk for developing it yourself.

A mammogram only takes 20 minutes and it can give you a lot more time with the people you love.

We offer free clinical breast exams and mammograms at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital for women who meet a certain criteria. You may be eligible for a free mammogram if you are:

• A woman aged 40 or older
• A Baltimore City resident
• Living on a limited income
• Uninsured or underinsured

Every adult woman should consider breast health checks as part of their regular health care. About 85% of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. In fact, most women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors. So it’s important to get screened even if you feel healthy overall.

Eating right and exercising can go a long way toward reducing your risk for breast cancer. However, that risk is never zero. Getting regular mammograms can help detect cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.

The American Cancer Society recommends women age 40 and older should get a mammogram every year through their senior years. This annual exam continues until you and your doctor agree it’s safe to stop. You should also have a clinical breast exam (CBE) performed by a healthcare provider every year. A CBE is when a doctor feels your breasts for lumps, divots, or other abnormal tissue problems.

Women between the ages of 25 and 30 should get a high-risk screening evaluation by their primary care physician to determine if a more frequent screening schedule may be necessary. Risk factors include:

• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Known genetic mutation associated with breast cancer, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
• Radiation exposure in childhood
• Personal history of breast or another type of cancer

A breast self-exam (BSE) is always a good practice, but it’s not a safe substitute for a mammogram. Only advanced imaging, such as mammography, can detect small growths or tissue changes deep in the breast as tiny as a grain of sand. However, it is important to know your own body, and a BSE can help you detect lumps or tissue changes between mammograms.

An imaging technologist will guide you to a private changing room. Then, they will take you to an imaging suite where they will help you position your breast between two thin, plastic “paddles.”

The paddles will press gently, but firmly against your breast tissue, temporarily compressing your breast into a flatter shape. This shouldn’t be painful, though you may feel a little pinching or discomfort. After a minute or so, the machine will release. Then, we’ll help you position your other breast in the machine and repeat the process.

After the test, you change back into your clothes and go home. The results take approximately one week to arrive via mail to your home, with sooner access via the patient portal. If there is a finding on your mammogram, imaging office staff will call you within 24 hours to schedule a return for additional screening.

It's best to schedule your mammogram the week after your period, when your breasts are the least tender. On the day of your mammogram, you should:

• Let your technician know if you have breast implants or if you have had any previous breast biopsies, since this can affect how your breast tissue appears in images.
• Avoid deodorant, perfumes, or lotions around the breasts or armpits.
• If you'd like, and your doctor approves, you can consider taking a mild, over-the-counter pain medicine to reduce any discomfort.

A mammogram shouldn't be painful, but it can be uncomfortable. In order to obtain a clear, accurate image, the breast tissue needs to be compressed between two paddles into a flatter shape for a very brief period—usually less than a minute. Great care is taken to minimize this time. Fortunately, screening mammograms are quick and this temporary discomfort can be lifesaving.

You can always consider taking a mild, over-the-counter pain medicine beforehand to alleviate the discomfort. Just check with your doctor first.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your MedStar Health care team will support you every step of the way. A nurse navigator will guide you through setting up specialist appointments, having honest conversations with loved ones, and finding resources such as transportation or financial help, if needed.

Your doctor will talk with you about the stage of your cancer and your treatment options. When caught early, breast cancer is 99% curable, and most patients have positive outcomes. At MedStar Health, you’ll have access to the latest treatment options. Our dedicated team of breast cancer experts will work together to make sure you get the very best breast cancer care. We offer expedited appointments, as well as results.