Mammograms: What you need to know

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke with surgeon Shani Fruchter, DO, a board certified breast surgeon at Optum Medical Care, about one of the most vital tools in breast cancer detection: the mammogram.

What is a mammogram?¹

Mammograms are a type of low-dose x-ray that looks at breast tissue. As a result, mammograms have a minimal risk to cause cancer. The mammogram uses x-rays to take a picture of the breast. It allows us to detect changes in the breast tissue that we may not feel on physical exam.

How do you know it is time for a mammogram?^2,3

The average woman will start her screening mammograms at age 40, and it is recommended to get a mammogram every year. If someone has a family history of breast cancer or personal history of other breast diseases that might have come up at a younger age, we might start earlier. It’s good to speak to your primary care doctor or your OB/GYN about the right time to start mammograms for you.

What does a mammogram machine do?¹

At Optum, everyone’s getting a 3D mammogram. The mammogram machine takes a picture by pressing the breast tissue. What we want to do is really get as thin a plane of the breast tissue as we can so the x-rays can pick up as much as possible from the entire breast.

Are mammograms uncomfortable?⁴

We all hear the stories that mammograms aren’t the most comfortable of tests. Essentially, we’re taking a breast, which is a 3D sphere, like a globe, and we’re trying to get it flat down into as 2D of an image as we can. So, we take something that’s a globe and try to push it down to a pancake. Despite the discomfort, the test itself is brief, lasting only a few seconds. If you take a deep breath and exhale slowly, you’ll already be done with the test.

How do I know if I have dense breasts?^5,6

I think it’s important to make sure that patients are aware that if they do have dense breasts, they’ll require an ultrasound as well as a traditional mammogram. Oftentimes, women who are premenopausal still have dense breasts. When radiologists read the mammograms, they also list the density of the breast and that’s rated ABCD. Anyone C, heterogeneously dense, or D, very dense, I recommend a screening ultrasound at the time of the mammogram.⁷ Most primary care doctors and OB/GYNs are aware of this now, but it is still a good idea for patients to be aware and to ask about ordering the ultrasound at the same time.

Can I get a mammogram with implants?⁸

If someone has implants, be sure to let the technologist know! You can still get a mammogram. The technologist performing the mammogram has different techniques that they’ll use to displace the breast tissue from the implant.

When will I hear about the results from my mammogram?

Oftentimes we’ll have the results within 24 hours, usually one business day. First, we share the results in your patient portal. We will also send a letter to your home address that’s listed on your patient chart. The letter will have a hard copy of your results and any next steps you may need to take. You should make sure that your addresses are up to date before you get a mammogram. If you need additional screening or a follow-up appointment, we always call and help make that appointment.

Is there a way to view the test results digitally?

Yes, all the results will be available in MyChart, which is our online patient portal. I try to encourage all my patients to sign up for MyChart. It’s a great way to be on top of your own health and your medical care. You can communicate with your physicians, too. When I order any imaging test for patients, I can send them a quick message about their results if everything is good. It doesn’t interrupt their day.

What are your top three takeaway pieces for patients?

1. Don’t delay your mammograms.  
2. Mammograms have little risk of causing cancer. 
3. And ask for an ultrasound if you have dense breasts.

Sources:

1. American Cancer Society. Mammogram Basics. Last updated January 14, 2022. Accessed September 15, 2025
2. American Cancer Society. ACS Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines. Last updated December 19, 2023. Accessed September 15, 2025
3. American College of Radiology. Patient Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Handout. Accessed September 15, 2025
4. American Cancer Society.  How to Prepare for a Mammogram.  Last updated January 14, 2022. Accessed September 15, 2025
5. The American College of Radiology. Breast Density Brochure. Last updated September 2024. Accessed September 15, 2025
6. American Cancer Society. Dense Breast Tissue | Breast Density and Mammogram Reports. Last updated September 9, 2024. Accessed September 15, 2025
7. American Cancer Society.  What Is a Breast Ultrasound? Last updated January 14, 2022. Accessed September 15, 2025
8. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Mammograms. Last updated: November 1, 2024. Accessed September 15, 2025