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- Mammography
Private breast screening mammogram
If you're over 40 and prefer more regular screening, you can book a private breast screening mammogram each year without a GP referral.
Breast cancer screening finds cancer early
If you’re worried about breast cancer and want access to early breast screening or more frequent breast screening in addition to the regular NHS screening programme, a mammogram can give you peace of mind. The scan checks for breast changes that may not be visible or felt by you or a doctor. It’s a reassurance that if anything unusual shows up, you can act sooner.
You can book a private mammogram with us at our centres in Milton Keynes, Maidstone, Oxford and Windsor if you;
are 40 years or older
are not experiencing symptoms (for example no lumps, pain, or breast changes)
haven’t had a mammogram in the last 12 months
are not pregnant
Please note, this doesn’t replace the NHS breast screening service, and we encourage women to continue attending these appointments. Further information is available on the NHS website.
When you come to our clinic, our friendly team will talk you through the process and help you feel at ease. Our clinics use advanced imaging technology to create a detailed picture of your breast. Your scans are carefully checked for signs of cancer and your results will be available within 5 working days.
Dr Fleur Kilburn-Toppin, Specialist Advisor Breast Radiology
Book an appointment
Call our experienced team to get fast and easy access to an appointment and results within 5 working days. A GP referral is not required.
Private breast screening at GenesisCare
How much does a private mammogram cost?
Our mammograms start from £210, which includes a scan of both breasts.
Most medical insurers require you to have symptoms to get funding for a mammogram. This means you will need to pay for this private mammogram yourself.
How do I get a mammogram?
You can call us today to book an appointment or find out more about our breast services. You don’t need a referral from your GP or consultant.
When you speak to one of our advisors, we’ll ask you some questions so we can offer you the right service. This could be a mammogram or an appointment at one of our one stop breast clinics.
We’re always happy to answer any questions and concerns you may have.
What if I have symptoms?
This service is for people without symptoms. So if you do have symptoms or notice any changes in your breasts, you can visit our one stop breast clinics and be seen without delay. You’ll have a full breast check and an appointment with a senior breast consultant. For symptomatic patients, this service is usually covered by your private medical insurance or can be self-funded.
Watch now to learn how to examine your breasts and the common indications for breast cancer
Results
How do I get my mammogram results?
We know it’s important to get your results as soon as possible. Once you have had your mammogram, we'll review your scans and contact you with your results within 5 working days.
If everything is normal, you will receive your results by post
If there’s anything that needs further checks, we’ll call you directly
We also send a copy of your results to your GP.
What happens next?
We support you during your scan and after. We’ll help you organise any follow-up scans and tests that you need, whether that’s with us or through the NHS.
For most people, their scans will come back normal, meaning there were no signs of cancer. This is reassuring, but you should continue to keep an eye on your breast health by:
Attending any scans or appointments offered to you by the NHS
Regularly checking your breasts for lumps or changes
Lowering your risk of breast cancer with healthy lifestyle choices
If you notice any change to your breast after a mammogram, get checked out straight away. Even if your last mammogram was normal, some types of breast cancer grow quickly, or it’s possible the cancer didn’t show on the scan.
Sometimes, a mammogram picks up changes to the breasts, like very small lumps. This doesn’t always mean you have cancer. If we see anything on your scan that needs further checks, we’ll call you to discuss the next steps. These could be:
Coming to our one stop breast clinics to have extra imaging and/or a biopsy, and an appointment with one of our experienced breast cancer consultants
GenesisCare writing to your GP to refer you back into the NHS, so that you can have your scans or tests with them
If your follow-up tests show that you have breast cancer, you can choose to have your treatment with us or within the NHS.
Learn more about our breast cancer care.
FAQs
A mammogram is a scan that uses X-rays to create an image of the inside of your breast.
We offer advanced mammogram techniques:
Digital mammogram – the scan is turned into a digital image and analysed on a computer
3D digital mammogram (tomosynthesis) – uses multiple X-rays to create a 3D picture of your breast
Digital imaging allows your doctor to quickly check for signs of breast cancer.
A mammogram screening can find early changes and cancers in breast tissue, even ones that are too small to feel. Our advanced technology also detects calcium build-ups, which can be a sign of pre-cancer.
If the scan finds something, it doesn’t always mean cancer. One of our experts will discuss your results with you and whether any more tests are needed.
Learn more about our breast cancer care.
Having a mammogram at our clinic is fast, easy, and our experienced team will help you to feel comfortable. The scan takes 10-15 minutes.
- When you come to the clinic, you will meet the radiographer who will explain what's going to happen next
- You'll get undressed to the waist, removing your top and bra
- The mammogram is usually done standing up and the radiographer will help you get into the right position
- Your breast is placed between two plates, which press it gently but firmly to keep it still during the scan
- The pressure can be a little uncomfortable, but each scan only lasts a few seconds
- The scan is repeated at a different angle, so you will have 2 scans on each breast
You can leave shortly after the scan is finished.
People experience mammograms differently. Some don’t find it painful at all, most people find it uncomfortable, and for others, it can be painful.
Whether your mammogram is painful can depend on:
If you have small or dense breasts or breast implants, then it may be more uncomfortable
If you are close to your menstrual cycle, your breasts can be more tender
The angle that the scans are taken from
Our mammographer will help you feel as relaxed as possible, and you can ask them to stop at any time.
Our mammograms take between 10 - 15 minutes in total. During this time, we scan each breast twice – one from top to bottom and one from side to side. Each individual scan takes a few seconds.
If you're 40+, symptom-free and not pregnant you can have a yearly private mammogram with us.
If you notice any lumps, pain, or signs of breast cancer, it’s important to get checked again immediately, even if you've recently had a mammogram.
If you are aged 50 – 71 years, you can get breast cancer screening on the NHS every 3 years. If breast cancer runs in your family, you may receive earlier or more regular screening.
You should still attend any screening invitations from the NHS, even if you’ve had a private mammogram.
Breast tomosynthesis, or a 3D digital mammogram uses multiple X-rays to create a detailed 3D picture of your breast. They are often used for seeing detailed images of younger women’s breasts and those who have dense breast tissue.
What about radiation risk?
Mammograms use X-rays to create an image of the inside of your breast. Mammography uses radiation to achieve these images, but there is a very low risk to you. The scan is equivalent to a few months of naturally occurring ‘background’ radiation. You can find out more about radiation risks here: Ionising radiation: dose comparisons - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Reviewed by:
Dr Fleur Kilburn-Toppin
Specialist Advisor Breast Radiology
August 2023
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