1. Going for your Breast Test at the Breast Screening Centre
Section 5
Going for your Breast Test at the Breast Screening Centre
Version 5 – October 2013

2. Breast Screening Centres
Wrexham
Llandudno
Cardiff
Swansea
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3. Going for your Breast Test
Remember to take someone with you if you want to
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4. What should I wear?
It is easier if you wear a skirt or trousers and not a dress x
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5. Who will I meet at the Breast Screening Centre?
The Receptionist will
ask:
Your name and address
Your date of birth (birthday)
Your telephone number
You can then sit down
and wait
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6. Who else will I meet at the Breast Screening Centre?
The Radiographer is the person who takes breast test
All staff taking the X- rays are women
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7. Where do I have to go?
You will be taken through to a different waiting area
This is a ladies only waiting area
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8. What will I be asked to do?
There are changing rooms where you can undress
You will need to take your bra off and put your top back on
You can then take a seat and wait to be called
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9. What will I be asked to do?
Sometimes you may be given a gown to wear and a basket to put your clothes in
You need to take off your bra and top and put the gown on
Once you have changed you can take a seat
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10. Can someone come with me?
Your friend, support worker, relative or nurse can stay with you while you wait to be called
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11. What happens next? The Radiographer will come and speak to you
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12. What happens next?
The Radiographer will take you through to the X- ray room
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13. Can someone come with me?
When you have your breast X-ray taken, the person with you will usually wait for you in the waiting area
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14. What will the Radiographer ask me
She will ask you your name, address and date of birth (birthday) again
She will talk about how she will take your breast test
You can ask her any questions if you are unsure
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15. What other questions may be asked?
The Radiographer may also ask if you have had:
A breast test before
Have any scars on your breasts
Have had any treatment to your breasts
Have noticed any changes to your breasts
Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to these questions
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16. Will the test hurt? You may find the test uncomfortable
It may hurt for a short time
Your breast may be a little bit red or sore after the X-ray
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17. Having your breast test
A female Radiographer will take you to the X-ray machine
She will show you how to stand
Then she will lift your breast onto the X ray machine
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18. Having a breast x-ray
Each breast is pressed firmly between the X ray plates
Two pictures will be taken of each breast
Sometimes they may need to take more pictures
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19. What should I do? Try not to tense up Stay calm and relaxed
Thinking of something relaxing may help
It only takes a few minutes
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20. What do I do if I want to STOP?
Tell the Radiographer if you want to STOP the test at any time
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21. What happens after the breast test has been taken?
When the breast test has been taken you can go back into the changing room
Then you can get dressed
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22. What happens to my X-ray?
A doctor called a Radiologist will look at your X-rays
Your X-rays will look a little bit like this
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23. What happens next
Now you can go home
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