| Mammograms can be life-saving. They can also be | | | | 4. Using simple analgesics like paracetamol, aspirin, |
| prohibitively painful to some women. Here are six tips | | | | diclofenac one hour before the test, provided you |
| to make your mammogram hurt less. | | | | don't have an allergy to these. These have to be |
| 1. Have your mammogram when you don't have | | | | taken after food. |
| much breast engorgement. (For most women, this | | | | 5. Drink green juice, made from green apples, |
| means the two weeks after menstruation has | | | | capsicums, celery, bitter melons and cucumbers on |
| finished but the time varies with the individual. Other | | | | alternate days for a week before the test. This is a |
| women might find day 18 to 22 after the first day of | | | | little secret one of my patients shared with me. This |
| menstruation more appropriate) | | | | green juice is also helpful for breast pain in general. |
| 2. Use as little salt as possible for a week before the | | | | Make sure you don't drink this more frequent than |
| test. Again, this will reduce the extent of breast | | | | suggested as it may lead to hypotension or even |
| engorgement for most women and hence the pain | | | | dizziness. |
| associated with the compression required for the | | | | 6. Tell the radiographer when you feel pain during the |
| test. | | | | test. The radiographer does have some lee-way to |
| 3.Taking 400 international units of vitamin E for 3 | | | | adjust the degree of compression of the breasts |
| weeks before the test. Why this works has not | | | | against the x-ray plates. |
| been documented. However, this works frequent | | | | Whatever you do, don't skip the mammogram if |
| enough for you to try out. | | | | advised by your doctor. |