>> So, about that mammogram.
I've been putting it off for weeks,
just like you.
We're busy people.
I'm a mom of two.
I just don't have the time.
Plus, I am a little nervous,
I have no idea what to expect.
But the truth is, it's just smart.
Early detection does save lives.
So here's what I did.
I made myself an appointment
at Johns Hopkins Medical Imaging.
I went online to MyChart,
I picked the data, time, and location.
So simple.
So, I'm goin',
and you're coming with me.
>> Here at Johns Hopkins,
we support that women of average risk for breast cancer
should start annual mammograms at age 40.
We think that that's really important,
because we know that annual mammograms
has the greatest chance to detect breast cancer early.
And when we detect breast cancer early through screening
we know that that's when it's the most treatable.
>> Hey, welcome to Johns Hopkins.
How can I help you today?
>> Hi.
I have an appointment.
>> Okay, I just need you to sign in
right here on this computer.
>> Okay.
>> We know that this type of exam can make women nervous.
From the moment you walk in the door,
we aim to make you comfortable.
I'm gonna take you back for your appointment now.
>> Oh, okay, all right.
>> I'll have you follow me.
>> Okay.
>> Right this way, please.
>> Thank you.
>> Everything you're gonna need
is right here on your dressing area.
You have your gown.
Everything's gonna be changed, from the waist up off.
We also have a robe for you to put on
so you don't get too old or chilly.
>> Okay.
>> Did you have any deodorant
or powders on at all today?
>> No, I was told not to wear deodorant.
>> Perfect, wonderful.
I'm gonna have you go ahead
and get changed,
I'll be right back with you in a few minutes, okay?
>> Okay, sounds good.
>> Great.
>> Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
Every single technologist
is trained and specialized in this type of exam,
and that is all we do.
Entirety, we're gonna start with the right side.
Okay.
I'm just gonna come around you here.
>> Okay.
>> I'm gonna have you take your right arm,
I just want you to grab right here for me.
Bend your elbow,
and I want you to lean in on this corner.
Perfect.
All right.
I just gonna come underneath...
After doing mammography for many, many years,
we are trained in little tiny tricks
in how to move the patient's breasts around,
how to move them in perfect position,
how to compress them a little differently
so that they are very, very comfortable.
A little squish,
but it's going to be very quick.
>> Having a really experienced technologist
performing the mammogram is very important for us.
The positioning, I can't emphasize enough
is crucial to us being able to interpret
the mammogram appropriately.
>> Are you doing okay?
>> Yes.
Yeah, fine.
>> Great.
All right, I'm just gonna ask you to hold still,
just like that for me.
We're gonna take a quick picture.
And just hold your breath.
>> When a woman gets a mammogram,
four total pictures are taken,
two pictures of each breast.
Each of those pictures on a 2D mammogram
is just one picture to look at.
On a 3D image you're able to scroll through that image
and see multiple layers within that one image.
So a 3D image really helps clarify
for us as radiologists whether a finding
might just be overlapping tissue
or whether there could be a mass under there.
>> You may breathe.
>> Hey, not so bad.
>> Doin' okay?
>> Yes, thank you.
>> Fabulous.
We are all finished.
>> At Johns Hopkins, all of our breast imagers
are breast imaging specialists,
and that's important because it's well known
that radiologists who exclusively read
breast imaging and read a higher volume
of breast imaging have a higher cancer detection rate,
and that means that we're picking up more cancers.
>> What was I worried about?
I have no idea.
It was so fast, so easy.
It was just a little squish for about four seconds.
The tech told me everything
that was gonna happen,
which was awesome.
>> If there's any additional findings
on your mammogram we will actually call you
to let you know so we can bring you back in
for any additional imaging that you might need.
>> After a patient has their mammogram,
it's read by the radiologist
usually the next day.
In 90% of cases the images look great
and normal,
and the patient is notified by mail.
In about 10% of cases,
we need to clarify an additional finding,
so the patient needs to come back
to return for additional imaging.
>> Once the radiologist has read the report,
the results will go into your doctor
within 24 hours.
>> Okay.
>> A screening mammogram takes less than five minutes.
It's not that uncomfortable.
And it saves lives.
>> You know what, I can totally do that once a year.
It feels good to know
what's going on with my health.
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