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Mammograms

Mammograms with comfort and peace of mind

It’s easy to put off a mammogram if you’re worried about what the screening might be like or what the results might show. But most women find that mammograms are more comfortable than they anticipated. Plus, mammograms are the best way to get peace of mind about your breast health.

That’s because mammograms are done before you have symptoms of breast cancer. Mammograms can detect breast cancer in its earliest, most curable stages when lumps are too small for you or your doctor to feel and before any other symptoms develop. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer found at Stage 0 or Stage 1 is 99%.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we’re making it easier for you to get preventive breast cancer screenings with convenient options like walk-in mammogram appointments and the latest in mammogram technology, close to home.

Where can I get a mammogram?

We have over 30 mammogram locations in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, including the Jane Brattain Breast Center and Regions Hospital Breast Health Center and the Lakeview Hospital Breast Health Center.

Mammograms are also available via our Mammo a-go-go mobile mammography unit, which travels to many clinic locations throughout the Twin Cities.

Get started by scheduling a mammogram appointment. Many next-day mammogram appointments are available. We also offer same-day mammograms at many HealthPartners and Park Nicollet mammography test sites. Please choose between a breast cancer screening mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram.

How mammograms work

Mammograms use X-rays to see the tissue inside your breasts. To get the best possible image, the machine compresses the breast tissue and takes pictures from different angles. Doctors then examine the X-rays looking for any areas of concern. We perform 2D mammograms, the industry standard, but also perform 3D mammograms. 3D mammograms, also called breast tomosynthesis, use multiple images to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast.

If the radiologist sees anything that requires a closer look, they’ll let you know and discuss next steps. Remember that many things show up on mammograms – not just cancer. In fact, most breast changes that happen over time are not cancer. Things like benign (non-cancerous) lumps, cysts and even dense breast tissue can appear as areas of concern on mammogram images.

There are several types of mammograms:

Screening mammograms These mammograms are used to look for early signs of breast cancer screenings.

Diagnostic mammograms – These mammograms create more images than screening mammograms so doctors can take an even closer look. You might need a diagnostic mammogram if your screening mammogram results show an area of concern, if your doctor notices an area of concern, or if you have breast symptoms, like breast pain.

3D mammograms – A 3D mammogram (breast tomosynthesis) is an imaging test that combines multiple breast X-rays to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)