What is the procedure of mammography?

The woman is asked to stand in front of the mammography X-ray machine. The technician places one of the breasts on a platform. The technician then lowers or raises the platform according to the height of the woman. The arms, head and torso are placed in a position, so that no hindrance is created.

What are the side effects of mammograms?

The main risks and other adverse consequences from screening mammography include discomfort from breast compression, patient recall for additional imaging, and false positive biopsies.

What are the indications for mammography?

Indications for Diagnostic Mammography

Abnormality found on screening mammogram.
Short interval follow up of probably benign but abnormal mammogram.
Patient/physician identified breast lump.
Focal breast pain/tenderness.
Suspected Abscess.
Spontaneous nipple discharge.
New nipple changes (e.g. inversion)

Why is mammography important?

Screening mammography reduces the risk of death due to breast cancer. It is useful for detecting all types of breast cancer, including invasive ductal and invasive lobular cancer. Screening mammography improves a physician’s ability to detect small tumors. When cancers are small, the woman has more treatment options.

Do nurses perform mammograms?

Nurses have important responsibilities in assisting patients during mammography by providing information about breast disease and breast examination, providing emotional support, and coordinating with other healthcare specialists for further diagnostic and laboratory test.

What are the limitations of mammography?

Limitations

Mammograms are not perfect. Not all breasts look the same on a mammogram – age and/or breast density can make cancers more or less difficult to see.
Mammograms do not detect all cancers.
Mammograms may lead to additional testing.

What skills do you need to be a Mammographer?

You must enjoy working with people and must be knowledgeable of anatomy and physiology, radiation safety, positioning, and medical terminology. Specifically, mammography demands exceptional people skills. Very often, you are the only person with the patient when they are being told they may have cancer.

Why do you want to do mammography?

Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt.

Why are mammograms effective?

They can save your life. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they’re at high risk.

What is the role of a nurse during a mammogram?

What are the job duties of a radiology nurse?

Radiology nurses utilize skills employed in many other nursing specialties and incorporate them in the radiology setting. They must provide quality nursing care to a large, transient group of patients of all ages, be a spokesperson for patient care and a teacher to other radiology staff members on patient care issues.

What is the procedure for a mammography?

A mammography is performed on an outpatient basis and the step-by-step procedure is as follows: Prepare the patient. Technician places breast onto compression plate. Repeat procedure on other breast. Review if films are reliable After the films are developed, they are checked to make sure they’re reliable.

Are radiology nurses exempt from normal nursing duties?

Although there is a lot of work done with the imaging technology, that does not mean Radiology nurses are exempt from normal nursing duties. Radiology nurses must still be with their patients before their procedure starts to understand and look for a further diagnosis.