What to Expect During a Mammogram

September 19, 2024 – Sulphur Springs, TX – Have you had a bad mammogram experience? Or maybe you have never had a mammogram. To encourage all women to get an annual mammogram, the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation wants to dispel the fear of mammograms.

“We all know how important early detection of breast cancer is. We thought we should do all we can to get rid of any barriers preventing women from getting their annual mammogram,” said Pam Black, chair of the Board of Directors of the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.

“One thing that could prevent women from scheduling a mammogram is fear of not knowing what to expect,” Black added.

The Foundation offers a free mammography clinic for uninsured Hopkins County women over 40, so there should not be any financial or insurance barriers to getting a mammogram.

The October clinic is being offered on Friday, October 4; Monday, October 7; and Wednesday, October 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 903-438-4325 to find out the full schedule of available appointments, as other days and times may be added.

Once you have made your appointment for a mammogram be sure to show up at the appropriate time and follow any pre-appointment instructions. The Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs is located next to the main hospital lobby, and parking is convenient.

Once inside the clinic, you will be checked in by a staff member. A brief wait for your appointment time will allow you a moment to get settled. Once called to the back, you will be escorted to a private changing room where you will put your belongings in a locker and take the key with you. You will be given a gown to put on for the screening.

Once changed, you will be taken to the room with the mammography machine. The technician will walk you through the procedure, which is a series of scans from different angles of each breast. Each scan will require a woman to put her breast on a plate. A second plate is lowered to secure the breast in place to prevent a blurry image. In addition, the plate creates a uniform thickness of the breast so that the X-rays pass through a small shorter path. Although this is not a comfortable feeling, it only lasts for a brief time. For most women, it is a manageable discomfort.

Once complete, you will be escorted back to the changing room to get dressed and gather your things before being taken to the lobby. The mammography process usually takes about 30 minutes.

Though there is pressure during the exam, the overall experience is peaceful and conducted in a manner to provide dignity to the patient.

If you are eligible for a free mammogram, please call 903-438-4325 to schedule an appointment. The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation was founded in 1997 to promote Hopkins County healthcare opportunities. The Foundation is an IRS 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Funds raised by the Foundation are used for the benefit of Hopkins County citizens.