Every woman should get an annual mammogram screening once she hits age 40 (earlier if she has a history of breast cancer or breast cancer in her family). If you are about to get your first mammogram, you’ll want to know a little about the process and how to interpret your mammogram screening.

Mammograms are essentially x-ray photos of your breast tissue. These x-ray photos help your doctor identify cancer cells in breast tissue.

You need to realize mammograms are fallible. Do not panic if you hear your doctor say you had an abnormal mammogram. Many times a mammogram will give what is called a false positive, meaning an abnormality in the breast tissue may be identified. The doctor will order more mammogram photos to be taken of the concerning area, and if he or she still does not know if the tissue in question is healthy or cancerous, he may order a biopsy or another procedure to determine if the cells in question are concerning or not.

While mammograms are the most effective tools available for early detection of breast cancer, you should be performing monthly self-examinations and getting annual breast exams from a professional doctor. If you feel a lump or change in your breast tissue, go to your doctor first for an exam and then request a mammogram screening to rule out the possibility of cancer. Many lumps are non-cancerous, and you will need the experience of a doctor and the results of a mammogram to know if the changes you find in your breasts are concerning or are normal.

Even the mammogram itself is not able to tell you if a lump is cancerous, but the screening will identify areas of concern. A standard mammogram (not prompted by changes in breast tissue or a lump) is used for preventative measures to make sure you and your doctor have not missed any signs of breast cancer. However, many mammograms identify lumps or areas of concern that when further investigated may prove to be non-cancerous. Breast mammograms are one of the first steps of protection against breast cancer.

When you go in for your mammogram screening, be sure to tell the nurse or doctor if you have any areas of concern. If you found a lump or noticed changes in a section of your breast, show the technician doing the mammogram so he or she can take extra screening shots of that section of your breast. Ask the technician if you will get your screening results immediately or later, and be prepared with questions.

The mammogram will identify areas of concern. If your breast tissue is significantly denser than average or you have had breast implants, it will be more difficult for the mammogram to give clear results, so you may have to allow the technician to take additional photos so all of the breast tissue is able to the viewed on the photos.