I had a routine mammogram this morning at 8 AM.. I had a couple of pimples under my breast and the girl doing the mammo said she didnt need to put a tag on them.
After the first picture, she asked me if I ever used lotion or powder under my breasts. I tell her sometimes.. She then asks when is the last time I used it and said a week or so ago.
She said that sometimes it can show up on a mammogram.. I dont remember ever being asked that question before but what has me scared is she asked after she took the first picture not before getting started so now I 'm wondering. After the 4 pictures she had me sit down in the same room to see if she needed anything else and then told me I could get dressed and go. My clinic I go to just does Mammos and is connected to all the breast drs so we can get the results right away .. This morning my appt was early and the nurse wasnt there yet and the radiologist was doing a procedure so didnt get my results yet.. She asked if I wanted the nurse to call me and I told her that I would like a phone call for my results.. So here I sit probably needlessly worrying about whether on not I use powder. She never left the room so I dont know if she's the one who decides at first if extra views need to be taken or not. It makes me wonder if she saw something that looked suspicious.. I would have thought she would have taken more pics but I dont know

right Now i need encouragement and support if anyone can shed any light on this , please. Thanks

Well, they tell you not to use lotion or powder or deodorant before your mammo because those products have an ingredient that can show up as calcifications. In my experience, it's a routine question for them to ask if you've used any of those type of products. I know how hard it is to wait for the results of any medical test, Bushmountain. Please try and keep yourself busy in some way until you get the call -- easier said than done I know. (((((Bushmountain)))))).

Thanks for telling me that this has been routine for you.. I've never been asked before or if I had it was before getting started.. She just asked after the first picutre and then wondered if she saw something or just plain forgot to ask up front.. She never asked me about deodorant but I didnt use any this morning after taking my shower and didnt use and lotion or powder. I think that part that made me nervous is when she asked me when I used it last.
No phone call yet so I'm hoping that the fact they didnt call right away is a good thing.. I dont know how soon after you leave the screening that they call if there is a problem. She will call eventually hopefully to day with the results which they do at this clinic.

Don't worry........ I've been asked that same question when before a mamogram.

Okay, they called with the results and I'm fine.. I was telling the nurse I was worried and told her that the gal doing the mammogram asked me about this after doing the pictures and the way she actually worded it made it sound like she saw something suspicious.

The nurse that called me said they are supposed to ask before beginning the mammogram just for the reason of what I went thru. She said that the
technician was definitely in the wrong and was going to talk to her about this because they dont need a bunch of women getting upset like this. the nurse said that doing it during or after the fact leaves the patient worrying something is wrong.. If the technician asked me and told me that she had forgotten to ask me before beginning I wouldnt have worried.. When she said she need to know because it's important and shows up in mammograms as calcifications or other
problems.. that's what concerned and worried me.. and then goes on to say that I should know that problems can happen anywhere in the breast.

Whew =- I'm glad that's done.. !

Thanks for the replies.. It did make me feel better during the wait.

Yeah, I figured that she had just forgotten to ask, Bushmountain. All's well that ends well. :-)