A mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breasts and is a method of finding breast cancer at a very early stage.

A female mammographer will compress your breasts, one at a time between two special x-ray plates and take the x-rays. The compression only lasts a few seconds and does not cause any harm to the breasts. Compression is needed to keep the breast still and to get the clearest picture with the lowest amount of radiation possible.

Are mammograms safe?

Can I bring someone with me?

Does a mammogram hurt?

Does breast screening prevent breast cancer?

How long will the mammogram take?

I have a disability, how will this affect my screening appointment?

I have a pacemaker, can I have a mammogram?

I have a pacemaker, will this affect my mammogram?

I have breast implants can I have a mammogram?

I have breast implants will this affect my mammogram?

What shall I wear for my appointment?

When do I get my results?

Where will the mammogram be done?

Who will take my mammogram?

Breast screening uses an X-ray test called a mammogram to check the breast for signs of cancer.  It can spot cancers that are too small to see or feel. Mammograms are carried out by women called mammographers.

Breast Screening can help to find small changes in the breast before there are any other signs or symptoms. Early detection may mean simpler and more successful treatment. The latest research shows that the NHS Breast Screening Programme is now saving over 1400 lives every year in England.

When you arrive at the breast screening unit, the mammographer will check your details and ask you about any breast problems you may have had. If you have any questions, please ask.

To have a mammogram you need to undress to the waist so it may be easier to wear a skirt or trousers, instead of a dress. You may also wish to bring a cardigan to put around your shoulders.

The mammographer will first explain what will happen. They will then place your breast onto the mammogram machine and lower a plastic plate onto it to flatten it. This helps to keep your breast still and get clear X-rays.

The mammographer will usually take two X-rays of each breast - one from above and one from the side. They will go behind a screen while the X-rays are taken. You have to keep still for several seconds each time.

The whole appointment takes less than half an hour and the mammogram only takes a few minutes.

Some women find mammography uncomfortable and some find it painful as the breasts have to be held firmly in position and pressed to take a good X-ray. If you do experience pain it usually only lasts as long as the mammogram although, in a small number of women it may continue for some time.

Bristol Breast Care Centre
Beaufort House 
Southmead Hospital
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB

Telephone*: 0117 4147000
*Monday to Thursday 9am - 5pm, Friday 9am - 4pm
Fax: 0117 4147038

Avon Breast Screening: 0117 4147070

Service Manager
Adrianna Duffy
Telephone: 0117 4147011

Senior Medical Secretary
Louise O’Leary
Telephone: 0117 4147020

Waiting List Co-ordinator
Leigh McNally
Telephone: 0117 4147021

Breast Multi-Disciplinary Team Co-ordinator
Liza Hughes
Telephone: 0117 4140427

Our dedicated team, support staff and support groups are all there to answer your questions and tell you about what to expect and what your treatment involves. They can also talk to you about how you are feeling, and advise you on practical, emotional, aesthetic and financial issues. 

Clinical Leads

Dr Alexandra Valencia, Consultant Radiologist

Dr Rachel Ainsworth, Consultant Surgeon

Consultant Surgeons

Miss Sasireika Govindarajulu
Dr Mike Shere
Miss Rachel Ainsworth
Miss Michelle Mullan
Miss Isabella Dash
Mr Jim Cook (Associate Specialist)

Breast Clinician

Dr Alice Moody (Specialty Doctor)

Consultant Breast Care Radiologists

Dr Lyn Jones
Dr Anjum Mahatma
Dr Alice Pocklington
Dr Helen Massey
Dr Rebecca Geach
Gillian Clark (Consultant Radiographer)

Breast Clinical Nurse Specialists

Helen Mann (team leader)
Angie Nicholson
Naomi Day
Lorraine Peall
Lorna Taylor
Jo Nutley
Telephone: 0117 4147018

Research is an essential part of Bristol Breast Care Centre and we may ask you during your visit whether you would like to take part in one of our research studies. Whether or not you take part is entirely your choice and will not affect your treatment. We will provide you with information to enable you to make an informed decision.

Clinical research is key to developing and improving treatments for patients now and in the future, so we really appreciate your time and contribution. All Breast Care consultants and medical staff fully support the research that is undertaken.

We know that finding breast cancers early saves lives.  The FAST MRI DYAMOND study is looking to see if a new form of MRI scan, called FAST MRI, can pick up aggressive cancers even earlier than mammograms can. To find out more about our Breast Care Research, please visit our dedicated Research Hub

GMC Number: 4583091

Year of first qualification: 1998, Cambridge

Specialty: Plastic Surgery

Clinical interests: Hand Surgery, facial reconstruction, Skin lesions and lesions under the skin

Secretary: Debbie Rice / Maddie Champion

Telephone number: 01179546611 (Debbie) 01174140850 (Maddie)

MA (Oxon) MB BChir (Cantab) MD (Manchester) FHEA EurDip HandSurg FRCS (Plast).

After his training, Mr James Henderson completed specialist fellowships in hand & aesthetic/reconstructive surgery.

He has over 50 publications and many academic awards.

Mr Henderson was a winner of the Bristol Post Healthcare award 2016. He is the Lead for Hand Surgery at NBT BSSH and BAPRAS national research committee member. 

GMC: 3398948

First year of qualification: 1981

Specialty: Urology

Clinical interests: Core urology, endoscopic urology and penoscrotal surgery

Secretary: Owen Collings

Telephone: 0117 414 5003

BMA
EAU
EBU
RCS
BUI

Year of first qualification: 1998, University of Bristol

Specialty: Surgery

Clinical interests: Kidney transplantation, endocrine and general surgery

Secretary: Julie Clash

Telephone: 0117 414 0825

Miss Anusha Edwards is a kidney transplant surgeon. She performs operations on patients with kidney failure including kidney transplantation and surgery to allow both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In addition, she performs keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery to remove kidneys for living donation.

In her role as an endocrine and general surgeon Miss Edwards looks after and operates on patients with parathyroid disorders and common surgical diseases such as hernias and gallbladder problems

She has a keen interest in the education of medical staff, patients and the local community, especially in the field of renal transplantation.

Miss Anusha Edwards is the Specialty Lead for General Surgery and a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, and a member of the British Transplant Society and British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons.

If you would like to view independent feedback visit www.iwantgreatcare.org/doctors/miss-anusha-edwards If you would like to leave your own feedback visit http://iwgc.net/esfl

Year of first qualification: 1996, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune University, India

Specialty: Anaesthetics & Intensive Care Medicine

Clinical interests: Vascular anaesthesia, Major trauma, Neurosurgery, Regional Anaesthesia, Pre-operative assessment and Medical Education

Secretary: Jean Moon and Helen Pearce 

Telephone: 0117 414 2641

Dr Subhabrata (Subbu) Halder trained in Anaesthetics in India (post graduate degree 2003) prior to commencing the South-West anaesthetic rotation.

Dr Halder obtained a dual qualification in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine and was appointed as a consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust in 2013.

He is the director for the final FRCA Cramer Course. He organises the anaesthetic educational meetings.

GMC Number: 6078478

Year of first qualification: 2003

Specialty: Anaesthetics

Clinical interest: Peri-operative risk stratification & evaluation

Secretary: Helen Pearce 

Telephone: 0117 414 5114

Dr Stephen Tolchard is a General Anaesthetist specialising in vascular, plastics, urological, bariatric and orthopedic anaesthesia. Dr Tolchard is the lead for Peri-operative Cardiopulmonary Evaluation, the North Bristol NHS Trust's Peri-operative research Group and Anaesthetic Practitioner Programme, and is the Deputy Medical Dean of NBTAcademy.