VitalCare Internal Medicine • Concord, NH
Women's HealthMammogram Screening: When to Schedule Yours
A practical guide to breast cancer screening guidelines, what to expect, and how to prepare — from a Concord, NH primary care clinic built around women's health.
If a mammogram has been sitting on your to-do list, this is your reminder to get it scheduled. Breast cancer screening is one of the most effective tools we have for catching cancer early — while it's most treatable — and yet it's one of the easiest appointments to keep putting off. Here's what you need to know about when to go, what to expect, and how to prepare.
Why breast cancer screening matters
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. Finding it early, before symptoms appear, gives patients the best chance at successful treatment. A mammogram — a low-dose X-ray of breast tissue — remains the most effective screening tool available for early detection.
Many imaging centers now offer 3D mammography (tomosynthesis), which captures multiple low-dose images from different angles to build a more detailed, three-dimensional view of the breast. It can help detect more cancers and reduce the number of false alarms compared to standard 2D imaging. If you're scheduling a mammogram, it's worth asking your imaging center whether 3D mammography is available to you.
When should you start screening?
Key screening guidelines
- All women and individuals with breast tissue should have a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25.
- Most women should begin mammograms at age 40.
- If you're at increased risk, you may need to start screening earlier and undergo additional testing.
- Your personal risk profile — family history, genetics, and other factors — determines the screening plan that's right for you.
Risk isn't one-size-fits-all, and neither is the right screening schedule. A conversation with your primary care physician can help determine whether you're at average or increased risk, and what that means for how early — and how often — you should be screened.
How to prepare for your mammogram
A little preparation can make the appointment smoother and the images clearer:
- Time it right. Schedule for about 1–2 weeks after your period starts, when breasts are typically least tender.
- Skip the extras. Avoid deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, or lotion on exam day — these can interfere with image quality.
- Dress for it. Wear a two-piece outfit so you only need to remove your top.
- Bring your history. If you're visiting a new facility, bring prior mammogram images so they can be compared side by side.
Not sure if you're average or increased risk? That's exactly the kind of question a risk assessment with your physician is designed to answer. It takes one conversation to build a screening plan tailored to you.
A note from VitalCare Internal Medicine
VitalCare Internal Medicine is a Concord, NH primary care clinic built with women's health at the center of how we practice — from breast cancer risk assessments to the everyday preventive care that keeps our patients ahead of health issues, not behind them. We're proud to be part of the Concord community, and proud that expanding access to physicians and women's health services is what's putting us on the map — including a recent front-page feature in the Concord Monitor.
If you're due for a mammogram, a risk assessment, or simply haven't found a primary care physician who has time for these conversations, we'd like to be that clinic for you.
Ready to talk about your screening plan?
Current VitalCare patients can call or text to schedule. New to VitalCare? Get started online.
If you are not currently a VitalCare patient and have an urgent medical question, please contact your own primary care provider.