You may need a mammogram for screening or diagnosis. 

Screening

Screening mammograms are done at regular intervals to check your breast tissue for: 

• Any changes since your last breast screening appointment
• Small cancers in the breast, before they can be felt by you or your doctor
• To get an image of your normal breast tissue, so future changes can be spotted 

You may be asked to have a screening mammogram if:

• You’re a woman aged over 40, so you’ll be invited for a mammogram every year 
• You’re a woman under 40, with a strong family history of breast cancer
• You’re a woman who has previously had cancer, or found lumps in your breast 

Diagnosis

You may need a symptomatic (diagnostic) mammogram to assess a change in your breast that's been detected by you or your doctor. 

These changes include: 

• a lump in your breast
• pain in your breast
• nipple thickening 
• nipple discharge 

During a diagnostic mammogram, a radiographer may take extra mammograms to get different views of the area of concern. 

This may include your radiographer taking a tomosynthesis mammogram.

This is an advanced form of breast imaging that uses low-dose x-rays and powerful software to create 3D images of a breast.

At The London Clinic, we use digital mammograms to give us the most accurate images of your breast tissue as possible. 

Compared to traditional mammograms, digital mammograms also offer a number of other benefits, such as:

• Less discomfort
• Images are easier to control and move around, which allows our experts to detect breast cancer more accurately
• Our radiologists can alter the contrast and darkness in images more, so it’s easier for them to spot subtle differences and variations in breast tissue 
• Better images of breasts that have denser tissue, typically found in women, aged between 40 and 50, who may be approaching or going through their menopause

When you have a mammogram, you’ll stand in front of a special X-ray machine.

A technologist will place your breast on a plastic plate. Another plate will firmly press your breast from above. 

The plates will flatten your breast, holding it still while an X-ray is taken. You’ll feel some pressure. 

These steps are repeated to capture a side view of your breast. You’ll then wait while the technologist checks the four X-rays to make sure the pictures do not need to be taken again.

Having a mammogram can be uncomfortable, and some women find it painful. But a mammogram does take only a few moments, and the discomfort is over soon. 

Overall, a screening mammogram should be completed within 20 minutes. A diagnostic mammogram may take longer. 

There is no evidence that a mammogram harms the breasts in any way. 

You’re only exposed to a tiny amount of radiation when you have one – even less than a standard chest X-ray. 

So apart from slight discomfort, the risks of having a mammogram are very small.

You can usually expect to get your private mammogram results within two weeks. Your consultant breast radiologist will talk you through these. 

Sometimes, they may suggest you come back to The London Clinic for a further mammogram or breast ultrasound to get a clearer view of your breast tissue.

Your results will also be sent to the doctor who referred you for a mammogram. We’ll also send a copy of your results to you or your referrer. 

Please take the copy with you if you attend any breast imaging appointments outside of The London Clinic.