Mammography
Celebrate good health with a mammogram. The American Cancer Society recommends a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40, with routine mammograms recommended annually after age 40.
Based on your personal and family history, your physician will determine how often you should have a mammogram.
The newly renovated Lexington mammography department is designed to meet the special health care needs of women in one convenient community location. Our goal is to provide excellent service and emotional comfort in a relaxed atmosphere. We understand the busy lives that women lead today and we offer extended hours during the week to meet those needs.
Screening and Diagnostic Mammograms
Screening Mammography is performed on women without symptoms who are over the age of forty. The purpose of a Screening Mammography is to look for any early signs of breast cancer. The majority of these mammograms show no abnormality.
Diagnostic Mammography is performed to resolve a particular question related to the breast. Diagnostic is done in one of several situations:
- If a woman has any signs or symptoms related to the breasts, such as a lump, breast pain, nipple discharge, unexplained skin changes of either breast, new or unexplained asymmetry of the breasts.
- If a woman has a personal or family history of breast cancer
- If an indeterminate abnormality is seen on a screening mammogram
Exam Preparation:
- Please do not wear deodorant, talcum powder, lotion or perfume
- Dress comfortably so you can remove clothing from your waist-up
- Children cannot be left unattended, so please arrange for childcare prior to your exam if needed
The day of your appointment:
- Your screening exam will take approximately 20 minutes and you do not need an order from your physician
- Your diagnostic exam will take approximately 30 minutes, and you will need orders from your physician
- Tell the technologist if you think you may be pregnant.
What will happen during the mammogram?
Mammograms provide an x-ray image of your breasts. Changes in your breasts often show up in a mammogram long before you can feel them during a self exam. At Lexington we use state of the art digital equipment with ICAD’s second look technology.
The procedure is simple: The technologist will position your breasts on the mammography machine platform where it will be gently compressed. This may be uncomfortable, but should not be painful. The reason that compression is done at all is to better visualize your breast tissue, and to reduce the amount of radiation to the breast. After all the necessary images are taken our board certified radiologists will review, comparing them to prior studies to determine a diagnosis.
Who will do my mammogram?
A female technologist who is specially trained and licensed in mammography will do the exam.
Exam Results:
Upon completion of the exam, a radiologist from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will interpret your exam. Your doctor will be contacted with the results.
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Thursday: 7:00 am to 630 pm
Fridays: 7:00 am to 430 pm.
Walk-in screening appointments are also available.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 781-528-2520.
