Breast Health FAQs

Women who have had or plan to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy may be a candidate for breast reconstruction, even if the surgeries took place years ago.

Breast reconstruction surgery is considered part of the cancer treatment. The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires that insurance plans covering mastectomies also cover breast reconstruction. Under the law, insurance mastectomy benefits must cover reconstruction of the breast that was removed by mastectomy; as well as breast lift, augmentation or reduction of the other breast to make the breasts look symmetrical after the mastectomy; any external breast prostheses that are needed before or during the reconstruction; and any physical complications at all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedema. Contact your insurance carrier to determine the specifics of your plan.

Timing is based on personal preference, other medical conditions, and cancer treatment. Reconstructive surgery can be immediate and done at the same time as the mastectomy, or delayed and done any time after the mastectomy.

Immediate breast reconstruction offers many advantages, including the possibility of fewer scars, fewer surgeries and the possibility of waking up with a reconstructed breast(s). Many patients feel relieved when they wake up postoperatively with breast(s), and many experience fewer psychological issues, such as depression, than those who wake up without having had reconstruction. Delayed reconstruction may be the best option for some patients if they need radiation or ongoing cancer treatments. Your surgical team can help determine the best time for your breast reconstructions.

The decision whether to have reconstructive surgery is deeply personal. It is important to see your plastic surgeon soon after your diagnosis so that a plan can be developed that results in optimum balance and function on both sides. Some women feel that having reconstructive surgery helps restore their femininity. They are also able to forego an external prosthesis (a form that fits inside the bra).

A multidisciplinary approach involving all of your physicians-including your plastic surgeon, general surgeon and oncologist-as well as your significant other or family member is recommended. The highly-skilled surgeons, nurses and technologists at the Southeast Georgia Health System Breast Care Center follow this comprehensive approach, delivering care that coordinates with cancer treatment and focuses on the woman as a whole.

Most women report that they are able to return to normal activities within six to eight weeks, but additional recovery time may be needed before attempting strenuous exercise.

Remaining patient is difficult but necessary throughout the recovery and healing process after breast reconstruction.

• Patients commonly experience soreness and fatigue for one or two weeks after implant surgery. After a flap procedure, recovery may take longer than two weeks.
• It can take up to two years for tissue to fully heal after surgery. Surgery scars may fade but never fully go away.
• Reconstruction does not restore feeling to the breast, but it is possible for some feeling to return after a period of years.
• Patients are advised to receive regular MRIs to ensure silicone gel implants aren’t leaking. Silicone gel implants may leak without causing symptoms, which is why patients should have their first MRI one to three years after surgery and follow-up MRIs every two years after that.
• Speak with your doctor about when you can begin exercising or engaging in physical activities, including heavy lifting, sport, and some sexual activities. Most women are able to return to these kinds of activities between four to six weeks post-surgery.
• Speak with your doctor about wearing bras post-surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, you may be advised to wear a different type of bra. It is normal for underwire and lace bras to feel uncomfortable after reconstructive surgery, especially if they rub against surgery scars.
• There may be an emotional adjustment period after breast reconstruction. Every woman is different and some women that undergo breast reconstruction may struggle with the emotional effects for years. Speak with a mental health professional about the emotional adjustments of surgery.

Speak with your doctor right away if you notice skin changes, lumps, pain, leaking, swelling or other symptoms.

Your mammogram will be performed by a mammographer registered by the ARRT. The Radiologic (Mammography) Technologists at the Breast Care Center perform over 1,000 mammograms each month in an effort to save lives by early detection of breast cancer.

Women ages 40 and over should have a Screening Mammogram annually (once per year) (see guidelines by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. Your doctor may recommend a slightly different routine- be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

If you have breast pain, nipple discharge, discover a lump or change in the breast, or have any other abnormalities of the breast, your doctor may request that you have a Diagnostic Mammogram. If you have no new problems that you are aware of with either breast and you are over 40 years of age, then you should have a routine screening mammogram. If you do have any problems with either breast, it is very important that you discuss that with your physician before your mammogram appointment.

Women should begin having yearly mammograms at the age of 40. If you are at high risk of breast cancer or have a family history of breast cancer, it is recommended to being annual screenings earlier than at age 40.

In order to have a mammogram, you must have an order from your physician for the test. Your physician will fax the order to SGHS and we will schedule your exam. To schedule an appointment or to change an appointment, please call 912-466-1240. If you would like more information about our mobile mammography unit, please call 912-466-5234.

A screening mammogram is an x-ray image of the breast that is performed for women with no symptoms and no new changes to the breast since their last mammogram. It is usually performed with two images of each breast, one from top-to-bottom (craniocaudal), and one from side-to-side (mediolateral oblique). Sometimes more images will have to be taken in an effort to obtain clear, adequate pictures and to ensure that all breast tissue is included in the picture. After your screening mammogram is performed, you can dress- there is no need to wait after the exam. Your exam will be read by a board-certified radiologist (a doctor that specializes in interpreting x-rays), a report will be typed, and you will receive a letter in the mail with your results. Your doctor will also receive a copy of your report. Occasionally, the radiologist will request that you return for more pictures to clarify any questions they may have.

This can be for a number of reasons including motion, the need for more compression, or clarification of a finding or change in the breast.

A diagnostic mammogram is performed to determine the cause of a problem. Often this is for breast pain, nipple discharge, to clarify a finding in a screening mammogram, or a lump or change felt in the breast by either your doctor or during your breast self exam. The number of pictures of each breast will vary for a diagnostic mammogram depending on your symptoms. After a diagnostic mammogram, you will wait while the technologist shows your films to the radiologist. The radiologist may request more images or a breast ultrasound, or may confirm that no more pictures are needed. You will learn the results of these tests before you leave our facility.* Your doctor will receive a copy of the report.

*Results are preliminary. Specific hours are reserved for diagnostic mammograms.

A mammogram uses a low-dose x-ray beam to produce an image of the breast. At the Breast Care Center, we use digital mammography, providing a faster experience. There is no film involved so images show up on the computer screen immediately. You will face the x-ray machine and the technologist will position your breast on the machine.

The technologist will then lower a plastic plate onto the top of the breast until the breast is adequately compressed. Everyone tolerates the exam differently; while compression can be uncomfortable, compression is a very important part of getting a clear image for the radiologist to read. You should always communicate with your technologist to let them know how you're feeling or if you are unable to tolerate the compression. The entire exam usually lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes with only a few seconds of compression for each breast. It is very important that you do not wear deodorant or powder on the day of your exam. If you forget, your technologist will provide you with wipes to clean the deodorant or powder off of your skin.

Breast compression is necessary in order to:

• Even out the breast so that all of the tissue can be visualized
• Spread out the breast tissue so that small abnormalities won't be covered up by normal tissue
• Allow the use of a lower x-ray dose since a thinner amount of breast tissue is being imaged
• Hold the breast still in order to eliminate blurring of the image caused by motion
• Reduce x-ray scatter to increase sharpness of the picture

Yes, you can still safely have a mammogram with breast implants. The technologist will perform around eight pictures instead of four. Four pictures will be taken with the breast implant included in the picture, using only a light compression. The second set of pictures will be taken without the implant in the picture. The technologists are trained to safely perform mammograms on individuals with breast implants.

Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time for mammography is one week following your period. Always inform your doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant. Some people choose to take an ibuprofen before the test. While some find mammograms to be very uncomfortable, a mammogram will not damage your tissues. Mammograms can cause some redness or bruising, especially if you tend to bruise easily or take blood thinners.

While digital mammography is very effective in detecting cancer, there is no method for detecting 100% of cancers. That is why it is so important to follow up with your physician regarding the results of your mammogram, and for other breast health issues. In some cases, your doctor may request that you have other types of studies performed.

You will receive your results in the mail and a report will be sent to your doctor. During registration, be sure that we have your correct mailing address. The letter that you receive will describe your results to you. There are several parts of the letter that are required by state and federal laws.

You will receive results for your diagnostic mammogram immediately following your test. In some cases, your doctor may choose to give the results to you.

Normal follow-up

Your exam was normal or benign (not cancer). It is recommended that you return to your routine annual mammogram schedule. However, if at any time you develop any changes in either breast, please check with your doctor.

Additional Images required (call-back)

If you need additional images after your initial screening mammogram, you will be alerted by the Breast Care Center or your physician's office to return for more imaging. You will also receive a letter from us describing the results of that test. The need for additional images does not necessarily mean that there is a serious problem, but it should not be ignored.

Further testing needed

After a diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound, we'll let you know if additional testing is required.

Reminder Letter

We'll let you know when it's time to schedule your next annual screening mammogram. If you've already made your appointment then you can disregard this letter and we will see you then! Otherwise, first obtain an order from your doctor then schedule your mammogram.

Short-interval Follow-up

This letter describes an area in your breast that is probably benign but should be followed up within three to six months, just to be sure. A short-interval follow-up does not necessarily mean that there is a serious problem, but it should not be ignored.

You should get your results within 30 days. If the X-ray picks up any abnormalities, you may be told to get another mammogram or other form of testing.

American Cancer Society

National Institute of Health

Susan G. Komen

Yes. Like an X-ray, mammograms produce only a tiny amount of radiation exposure.

Every woman experiences the mammogram procedure differently. Some women report feeling discomfort or small amounts of pain during the procedure, particularly during the X-ray portion. However, the X-ray procedure only takes a couple of minutes to complete. After the mammogram, most report that they don’t experience lingering pain, but it is possible to feel sore or tender for the rest of the day.