{"id":1890,"date":"2026-02-07T19:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T10:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.rftcjapan.org\/?page_id=1890"},"modified":"2026-02-27T13:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T04:15:01","slug":"how-mammograms-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/how-mammograms-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Mammograms Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1890\" class=\"elementor elementor-1890\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1645741 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1645741\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42bc769 e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"42bc769\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-621c3cc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"621c3cc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:100,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d34e1ae elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"d34e1ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__d34e1ae\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__d34e1ae\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__d34e1ae\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e60eb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9e60eb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Resources<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32540c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"32540c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"3065\" class=\"elementor elementor-3065\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2331\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b41ed49 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7b41ed49\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2331\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-171d201f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"171d201f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d67a4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9d67a4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Navigating Care in Japan<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2983039 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"2983039\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-2983039\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2564\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/questions-for-your-doctor\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Questions for Your Doctor<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2565\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/types-of-treatment-in-japan\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Types of Treatment in Japan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2566\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/what-is-breast-reconstruction\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">What is Breast Reconstruction?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2567\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/where-to-get-reconstruction\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Where to Get Reconstruction<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2563\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/medical-care-after-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Medical Care After Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-2983039\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2564\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/questions-for-your-doctor\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Questions for Your Doctor<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2565\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/types-of-treatment-in-japan\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Types of Treatment in Japan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2566\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/what-is-breast-reconstruction\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">What is Breast Reconstruction?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2567\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/where-to-get-reconstruction\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Where to Get Reconstruction<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2563\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/medical-care-after-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Medical Care After Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2331\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dca4bfa e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dca4bfa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ea7ccd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ea7ccd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mammogram &amp; Screening<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2941900 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"2941900\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-2941900\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2597\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/what-to-expect-from-a-mammogram\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">What to Expect From a Mammogram<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2595\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/how-mammograms-work\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">How Mammograms Work<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2596\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/post-mammogram-self-care-guide\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Post-Mammogram Self-Care Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-2941900\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2597\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/what-to-expect-from-a-mammogram\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">What to Expect From a Mammogram<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2595\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/how-mammograms-work\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">How Mammograms Work<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2596\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/post-mammogram-self-care-guide\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Post-Mammogram Self-Care Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2331\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec5a04b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ec5a04b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0555587 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0555587\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Self-Check Guide<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c94af52 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"c94af52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-c94af52\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2568\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/how-to-perform-a-proper-self-check\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">How to Perform a Proper Self-Check<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-c94af52\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2568\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/how-to-perform-a-proper-self-check\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">How to Perform a Proper Self-Check<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a30de9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5a30de9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f37d787 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f37d787\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Mammograms Work<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7d1f7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7d1f7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A <strong>mammogram<\/strong> is a specialized <strong>low-dose X-ray<\/strong> used to examine breast tissue. It is the <strong>most effective screening tool for detecting breast cancer early<\/strong>, often <strong>before any lump can be felt<\/strong> and before symptoms appear.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bd11f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3bd11f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/graphic-mammogram.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6441\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f939b0b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f939b0b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6e3eb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f6e3eb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Happens During a Mammogram?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8474fb0 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8474fb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li><strong>Positioning<\/strong><ul><li>One breast at a time is placed on a flat surface.<\/li><li>A clear compression plate gently presses the breast flat.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Compression<\/strong><ul><li>Compression spreads the breast tissue evenly.<\/li><li>This allows doctors to see tiny abnormalities more clearly.<\/li><li>It also reduces radiation exposure and prevents blurry images.<\/li><li>The pressure lasts only a few seconds.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>X-Ray Imaging<\/strong><ul><li>The machine takes low-dose X-ray images from different angles.<\/li><li>The same process is repeated for the other breast.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Image Review<\/strong><ul><li>A specialized doctor called a radiologist carefully examines the images.<\/li><li>The results are sent to your doctor, who explains the findings.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b630788 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b630788\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66b6d26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"66b6d26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Can Mammograms Detect?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dabecd color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8dabecd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mammograms can detect:<\/p><ul><li>Very <strong>small tumors<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Calcifications<\/strong> (tiny calcium deposits that can signal early cancer)<\/li><li>Changes in breast tissue <strong>years before symptoms appear<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>This is why regular screening saves lives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5518eb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c5518eb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c557f2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c557f2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Does a Mammogram Hurt?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a35d87 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a35d87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Most women feel <strong>pressure or brief discomfort<\/strong>, not pain.<\/li><li>The discomfort lasts only a few seconds.<\/li><li>Any sensitivity can often be reduced by scheduling the exam o<strong>ne week after your period<\/strong>, when breasts are less tender.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a3540b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a3540b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd068fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cd068fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Often Should You Get a Mammogram?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c57401 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c57401\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>General guidelines (may vary by country and personal risk):<\/p><ul><li><strong>Ages 40\u201349:<\/strong> Every 1\u20132 years<\/li><li><strong>Ages 50 and up:<\/strong> Every year<\/li><li><strong>High-risk women:<\/strong> May start earlier and include MRI<\/li><\/ul><p>Your doctor can help determine the best schedule for you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d98114 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8d98114\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94bbec0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"94bbec0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Mammograms Matter<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c40e6d7 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c40e6d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Mammograms can find breast cancer at <strong>Stage 0 or Stage I<\/strong><\/li><li>Early-stage breast cancer has a <strong>survival rate of over 95\u201399%<\/strong><\/li><li>Many women diagnosed early need <strong>less aggressive treatment<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73fe1e5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"73fe1e5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f712e96 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f712e96\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4308ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b4308ba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c792111 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c792111\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a65a72 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2a65a72\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bc28cd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8bc28cd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-584b0df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"584b0df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Important Note<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dea3561 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dea3561\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-553690f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"553690f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47893d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47893d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A mammogram is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2636e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a2636e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If something unusual is found, <strong>additional tests<\/strong> such as ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy may be needed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Resources A mammogram is a specialized low-dose X-ray used to examine breast tissue. It is the most effective screening tool for detecting breast cancer early, often before any lump can be felt and before symptoms appear. What Happens During a Mammogram? Positioning One breast at a time is placed on a flat [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1890","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Mammograms Work - RFTC Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/resources\/how-mammograms-work\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Mammograms Work - RFTC Japan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Table of Contents Resources A mammogram is a specialized low-dose X-ray used to examine breast tissue. 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