Get a more comfortable mammogram in Olney at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
MedStar Breast Health and Imaging Center offers the most advanced technology with Hologic’s Genius 3D Mammography that is FDA-approved as superior for women with dense breast tissue. We strive to make your experience more comfortable with Hologic’s curved paddle. You will receive results promptly and if additional images are needed, you will be contacted by the technologist. You can rest assured that nationally-recognized experts are by your side every step of the way to give you personalized, timely care. If it’s time for a mammogram, don’t wait. We are here to care for you!
Innovative technology: comfortable exams, clearer results
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MedStar Breast Health and Imaging Center
The mammogram clinic is part of the MedStar Radiology Network imaging suite, where more than 120 specialists bring holistic expertise to provide the highest quality of breast health care. We use the latest mammography technology to give you faster, clearer results. -
MMMC Mammography Facebook Live: Howard Son
Did you know mammography can help reduce breast cancer by 40%? It's the only test shown to reduce breast cancer deaths. So it's important to get your yearly checkup. In honor of #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, we sat down with breast surgeon Dr. Jennifer Son and plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Robert Howard to discuss what to expect during a mammogram, the importance of early detection–and more!
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SmartCurve™ Mammography
This revolutionary technology is clinically proven to provide a more comfortable 3D mammography experience—93% of women report an increase in comfort using this technology. The machine’s paddles are curved like a breast for a better fit and more evenly distributed pressure. You’ll spend less time under pressure—with less pinching—to get clear, precise imaging.
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Counting Her Blessings: Tufor's StoryAccountant Tufor Tenny is used to crunching numbers. But when she felt a lump in her breast at age 37, she knew something wasn’t adding up. Tudor had a history of breast fibroids, but this lump felt different. Busy with work and caring for her young son, she put a checkup on hold until a coworker urged her to be seen. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and chose to get a mastectomy. Today, she and her little boy are grateful that she got expert care just in time at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center.
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If Not For My Husband: Kim's storyKim Wells was 49 and had just gotten married. Life was a dream until she felt a pain in her breast. A recent mammogram at another hospital had come back clear, so she shrugged off the pain. But her new husband urged her to visit MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. The pain was breast cancer, and seeking timely specialist care saved her life.
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The Sweet Sound Of Living Cancer-Free: Devon's StoryDevon Cumberbatch, 34, was out of town, rehearsing for a music competition when she received the call: A breast lump found during a routine physical was found to be breast cancer. Blindsided by the news, health-conscious Devon sought information and care right away from the breast team at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. After a right-sided mastectomy, Devon is living cancer-free.
Breast Health and Imaging Center at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
18101 Prince Philip Dr.,
Suite 5200,
Olney, MD 20832
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Do I need a mammogram if I am healthy and active?
Every adult woman should consider breast health checks a part of their regular health care. Most women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors, so it is important to get screened even if you are generally healthy.
Eating right and exercising can go a long way toward reducing your risk for breast cancer, but the risk is never zero. Getting regular mammograms can help detect cancers when they are small and easier to treat.
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When should I start getting mammograms?
Women age 40 and older should get a mammogram every year through your senior years, until you and your doctor agree it is safe to stop. You should also have a clinical breast exam (CBE) by a health care provider every year. A CBE is when a doctor feels your breasts for lumps, divots, or other abnormal tissue problems.
Women age 20-39 should have a CBE every year. If you are at increased risk for breast cancer, you may need to start getting mammograms before age 40. Risk factors include:
Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
Known genetic mutation associated with breast cancer, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
Radiation exposure in childhood
Personal history of breast or another type of cancer
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Can I do breast self-exams instead?
A breast self-exam (BSE) is not a safe substitute for mammography. Only advanced imaging such as mammography can detect small growths or tissue changes deep in the breast. However, it is important to know your own body, and BSE can help you detect lumps or tissue changes between mammograms.
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What happens during a mammogram?
A nurse will show you to a private screening room where you can slip on a poncho-like garment. Then, an imaging specialist will help you position your breast between two thin, plastic “paddles” that are curved in the shape of a breast.
The paddles will press gently but firmly against your breast tissue, temporarily compressing your breast into a flatter shape. This shouldn’t be painful, though you might feel a little pinching or discomfort. After a minute or so, the machine will release. Then, we’ll help you position your other breast in the machine and repeat the process.
After that, you can change clothes and go home. A nurse will call you, often within 24 hours, to discuss your results. If your imaging results come back normal, that’s all you need to do, and we’ll see you next year!
If your imaging shows something abnormal, such as a suspicious lump or growth, we will ask you to come back for further testing. Advanced technology such as breast MR, a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging tool, can give us more information about abnormal mammogram findings.
Unusual imaging does not automatically mean that you have breast cancer. You may have healthy breasts that happen to be less smooth, or you may have dense breast tissue that requires advanced imaging. But if you do have cancer, catching and treating it early can save your life.
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What if the doctor finds cancer?
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your MedStar Health care team will be by your side, every step of the way. Right from the start, a nurse navigator will guide you through setting up specialist appointments, having tough conversations with loved ones, and finding resources such as transportation or financial help, if needed.
Your doctor will talk with you about the stage of your cancer and your treatment options. When caught early, breast cancer is highly treatable, and most patients have positive outcomes. At MedStar Health, you will have access to the latest treatment options, including clinical trials. Our dedicated team of breast cancer experts will work together to make sure you get the very best breast cancer care.