What is a Screening Mammogram?
A screening mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breasts that help find breast cancer early, often before symptoms appear.
- Takes about 20 minutes
- Performed by a specially trained technologist
- Helps detect breast cancer early
Am I Eligible?
✓ You can book a screening mammogram if you:
- Are a resident of Canada with a valid provincial health card
- Are age 40 or older
- Have no breast implants
- Have no new breast symptoms
Have no personal history of breast cancer
📌 Note: If you have breast symptoms, speak with your healthcare provider.
How do I book?
- Call the Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program (NSBSP), at 1-800-565-0548
- No referral required from a healthcare provider.
- Self-booking available
Where can I get a screening mammogram?
Available at:
- 11 fixed screening sites across Nova Scotia
- 30 mobile screening locations throughout the province
How should I prepare?
Before your appointment
- Bring your health card.
- Do not wear deodorant, powder, creams or lotions on your chest & underarms.
- Arrive 15 minutes early for registration.
- Wear a two-piece outfit
- Some find it helpful to avoid caffeine a few days before a mammogram.
- Consider an over-the counter pain medication one hour before your mammogram appointment if you find mammograms uncomfortable.
What happens during a mammogram appointment?
📝Check-in ➜👚Change from Waist Up ➜📸Mammogram Images Taken ➜✅Images Reviewed for quality ➜🏠End of the visit
How is mammogram performed? (click to learn more)
- The mammography technologist will place one breast at a time on a special X-ray machine.
- Your breasts will gently be compressed for few seconds while images are taken.
- You'll feel some pressure or discomfort which lasts less than 10 seconds.
- You’ll be asked to hold your breath while the images are taken.
- Most mammograms include 4 images (two of each breast).
- Additional images may be taken if needed.
After your mammogram
- The technologist confirms the quality of the images are good and don’t need to be redone.
- Results are mailed to both you and your primary health care provider if you have one.
- Diagnostic imaging results are sent only to your primary care provider.
Understanding your results
If your result is normal
- You will receive a letter with your results.
- Results may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.
- The letter will tell you when to book your next screening mammogram.
- A reminder letter is mailed to you 3 months prior to your next due date, if you have not booked your appointment.
If additional testing is needed
- Sometimes a screening mammogram finds an area that needs a closer look.
- Being asked to return for additional testing does NOT mean you have breast cancer.
- About 5-10% of people are asked to return for more testing.
Additional tests may include:
- Diagnostic mammogram: Additional x-ray images of the area of concern.
- Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to examine an area of concern. It can show whether a lump is fluid filled, such as a cyst, or solid.
- Core Biopsy: Removes tissue samples from area of concern for testing.
📌 About 90-95 % of people recalled for additional testing turn to not have breast cancer.
