The Bermuda TB and Health Association encourages all women, especially first-time "mammographers", to take this opportunity and get screened for breast cancer. The following is a list of frequently asked questions about the disease.

1. How long does it take to receive a mammogram?

This can vary, but once a patient is called a screening mammogram usually takes 15 minutes or less, while a diagnostic mammogram takes roughly twice as long.

2. Does getting a mammogram hurt?

Mammograms can be uncomfortable, but they don't take very long. The level of pain experienced can vary from person to person.

Planning to have your mammogram shortly after your period makes it less uncomfortable as your breasts may be less tender at that time.

3. What are some of the biggest misconceptions about breast cancer?

One of the biggest misconceptions about breast cancer is that men cannot get diagnosed with the disease. While very rare, it is possible.

Men can also be carriers of a hereditary gene that may put their children (especially their daughters) at higher risk for developing breast cancer.

4. How many women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Bermuda each year?

In Bermuda, breast cancer represented 33.3 percent of all cancers diagnosed Island-wide by site, as reported by Bermuda National Tumor Registry in 2009, making breast cancer the most prevalent cancer on the Island.

Seventy five women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 according to the Bermuda National Tumor Registry.

5. Is there only one kind of mammogram?

There are two types of mammograms, digital and analog mammograms.

Digital mammograms are the preferred method as it is the latest technology and provide a clearer picture than analog mammograms.

Digital mammograms also use x-ray radiation to produce an image of the breast, but unlike analog mammograms where the image is stored on film, it stores the image of the breast directly on a computer.

This allows the image to be magnified for the doctor to take a closer look.

In addition, women can have a screening mammogram or diagnostic mammogram. Screening mammograms are done for women who have no symptoms of breast cancer.

They should be done yearly once a woman turns 40. Alternatively, diagnostic mammograms are used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other symptom or sign of breast cancer has been found.

A diagnostic mammogram takes longer than a screening mammogram because it involves more x-rays in order to obtain views of the breast from several angles.

The technician can magnify a problem area to make a more detailed picture, which helps the doctor make a correct diagnosis.

6. At what age should a woman begin getting a mammogram?

It is recommended that women over 40 should have routine mammograms annually. If there is a family history of breast cancer, it may be recommended by their doctor that an individual start mammograms earlier.

7. What are some of most common reasons women give as to their reluctance to go for a mammogram?

Some women may be afraid to have a mammogram as a result of a previous experience or experience they have heard of. Having a mammogram can cause a lot of anxiety.

However, women should take comfort in the knowledge that 90 percent of breast lumps found are non-cancerous. Other reasons could include a woman being uninsured or underinsured.

For more information on breast cancer, contact Rhonda Smith-Simmons or Ashley DaCosta at the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre: 236-0949 or 236-1001.

There is also a confidential cancer information service available at 323-2247.