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A mammogram produces X-ray pictures of your breasts which
can help identify any unusual lumps or other abnormalities.
A screening mammogram is done on women who have no symptoms
of breast cancer. A diagnostic mammogram is done on women
who already have had any abnormalities of the breast or irregular
lumps.
You should normally begin having mammograms once you reach
40. They should be done every one or two years. Your provider
will consider your risk factors and advise you on the timeliness
of having one done. If there is any family history or premenopausal
breast cancer, your provider may want you to begin having
mammograms at an earlier age, possible at age 35.
In addition to a mammogram, you should have your provider
perform a clinical breast exam at the time of your annual
exam. You should also perform a manual breast self-exam (BSE)
monthly in the privacy of your home.
Valley OB-GYN Clinic will make the necessary referral for
you to one of the area centers where mammograms are performed.
We also will monitor receiving a copy of the results sent
to us for follow-up. If we have recommended that you have
a mammogram and we do not receive a report from the radiologists
in a timely fashion, you will be contacted to determine the
status of the requested mammogram.
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