West Midlands Breast Screening Programme

Mammography

A mammogram is a special x-ray taken while compressing the breast. The mammogram can detect small changes in breast tissue which may indicate cancers which are too small to be felt either by the woman herself or by a doctor. The examination is performed by a female radiographer, or in some breast screening services, a female assistant practitioner.

The mammograms are read by a radiologist specialising in breast imaging or by a film-reading radiographer. All films are read by two people.

The programme aims to have issued a woman’s results within two weeks of her screening visit. If any abnormalities are detected on the mammograms the woman is invited back for further tests (assessment).

Like other medical tests mammography is not 100% accurate. It is calculated that approximately 7% of breast cancers are not visible on x-rays. Therefore women should be continually breast aware.

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