- Stop drinking caffeinated beverages several days before your mammogram appointment. This includes coffee, tea, hot chocolate and sodas.
- If you are still menstruating, schedule your mammogram for the week after your menstrual period. Then your breasts will be less tender and have fewer lumps. This is also a good time of the month to perform breast self-examination.
- If you have had a hysterectomy (uterus removed) and take estrogen for menopause, stop taking the estrogen for about 5 days before your mammogram. Most women will not have withdrawal symptoms during this short period, but the breasts are usually less tender.
- If you have not had a hysterectomy and take estrogen, ask your doctor about the best time to have a mammogram.
- If you regularly experience breast pain, take pain-relievers such as acetaminophen (non-aspirin likeTylenol) oribuprofen (Advil orMotrin) one ortwo hours before your mammogram.
- Discuss your concerns with the technologist performing the exam. She will apply the compression slowly and only to a level that you can tolerate.
Remember that compression of the breast lasts only a few seconds. Those few seconds could allow early detection of any breast problems.
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