I am soon going for first mammogram – what should I expect?

I have turned 50 and have received a letter inviting me to have a mammogram. What can I expect?

Mammograms are X-rays that are used to detect abnormalities in breast tissue, particularly cancer.

Eight out of 10 breast cancers occur in women aged 50 and over, so letters are sent every two years to women aged 50-74 to invite them for free mammograms. Outside of those ages, a doctor can prescribe a mammogram at any age if necessary.

Appointments can be booked at local radiology centres, health clinics, or hospitals. If you have not reached the menopause, you may wish to do so within 15 days of the start of your period, when your breasts are generally less sensitive.

On the day of the test, do not wear deodorant, powder, cream, or perfume on your upper body, including underarms. You should also not wear jewellery, which could cause false images. You will be asked about family and medical history, current treatments, contraception, the results of your last mammogram if relevant, any risk of pregnancy, and any pain.

After entering the mammography room, a technician will ask you to take off your clothes to the waist. The technician will place one of your breasts on the mammography plate before a second plate compresses it. He or she will tell you when to stop moving and hold your breath while the images are taken. The machine then rotates to take an angled image. The same steps are repeated for the other breast.

It takes around 15 minutes. If you have implants, you should tell the technician as they will need to take additional images. Many people do not find the process very pleasant; however, it is not usually painful. Once completed, you wait while the images are checked. Depending on the results, you may have to repeat some.

If your test is part of the screening programme, the images are automatically read a second time by another radiologist to confirm results. In certain situations, an ultrasound is needed – for example, if the density of the breasts makes it difficult to interpret the X-ray correctly. This costs from €40 and is reimbursed at 70% by social security.

You will be given your mammogram images to take home, keep, and bring in at your next scan. Apart from the two-yearly screening programme (when you should take the letter you received to have the procedure free of charge), mammograms cost €66.42, with 70% reimbursed.

Breast cancer in men is less common, representing fewer than 1% of all breast cancer cases. Age, family history, and rare conditions such as Klinefelter syndrome can be risk factors.