1) How do I book an appointment?
You can book your appointment by calling our appointments team on 800 1999.
Following a screening a registration process the patient administrator will book you with a breast surgeon who will manage your treatment plan further.
We accommodate same day or early appointments for urgent or suspected cases, when being referred by another practitioner. The referral practitioner can contact either the breast surgeons or breast radiologists via the above telephone number or on the doctors hospital email ID as advertised on the website
It is very important to bring all previous breast exams and reports. This helps to compare current findings and make a good assessment.
2) Where is the Breast Radiology department located?
- Mammogram and ultrasound, and all associated interventional breast procedures with the exception of Breast MRI and breast MRI guided biopsy , are conducted in the Breast Imaging Department located in the North Wing of Mediclinic City Hospital
- For location details, please click here
- The Breast MRI and breast MRI guided biopsy is conducted in the radiology department that is situated in the main hospital
- Please note that the hospital parking is occasionally very busy, however, we do offer valet parking and also have a Metro station is in very close proximity. Please do consider these options to ensure you make you appointment on time. Any delays on keeping with the appointment time may lead to rescheduling to offer a timely service to all our patients.
3) What are the opening hours of the breast imaging unit?
Opening hours :
Sunday to Tuesday 7.30-20.00
Wednesday:7.30-1630
Thursday :7.30-1730
Friday closed
Saturday :7.30-16.30
4) What is the routine breast health checks that one can do?
You can check your breasts yourself by feeling for lumps every month preferably at the same time of the month, in the first 14 days after the start of your period.
Your breasts are less sensitive then. Please find attached here the guide of self examination.
5) What is the ideal age to have a first mammogram?
If you have a breast symptom, lump or other breast concern and are under the age of 35, we will start with an ultrasound of your breasts. Only if the radiologist finds something unusual, might she advise for a single or full mammogram.
If you are over the age of 40 and asymptomatic, we advise to start with a screening mammogram and if necessary, we will do an ultrasound afterwards
If you are symptomatic, whatever your age, your referring clinician will advise which study is recommended.
6) What do I expect at my first mammogram?
When you have an appointment for a mammogram , you will fill in a questionnaire on arrival, and consent to the examination.
The mammogram is conducted by experienced radiographers who are gentle and efficient in performing the views on women, men and patients with implants.
You will be asked to change into a patient gown and remove all jewelry. Avoid wearing any deodorants, perfumes, lotions or body creams on the day of appointment.
The radiographer will guide you on the positioning and be with you through the mammogram process.
Following the completion of the mammogram, the radiographer will check the scans with the radiologist who will advise if more views are needed or request an ultrasound be done.
These results will be shared with your physician and further plan of action will be communicated to you via email or phone as required
7) Do breast implants interfere with mammograms?
Breasts with implants need imaging as well and the same criteria applies, annually over 40 , only when patient under the age of 40 presents with any complaints, we start with a mammogram and also combine it with a ultrasound, as mammogram alone is insufficient to review all areas that may be hidden by the implant. MRI may also be advised.
8) What are the safety measures in place at the Breast Radiology department during COVID?
We adhere to all Covid-related safety precautions such as protective masks and gowns, gloves, cleaning, hand disinfection and your temperature is taken at reception.
You will also be asked if you are pregnant (mammogram will not be done in this instance) and a thyroid shield is provided for all patients.
9) Why would the doctor order an aspiration or breast biopsy?
In the instance of a very painful cyst (fluid filled lump) or an abnormal cyst, the radiologist will advise aspiration.
Sometimes the radiologist will identify a mass as requiring further workup and this will entail a core biopsy which is commonly done under ultrasound, but may also be conducted under mammography or with MRI. The biopsy allows the lesion to be sampled for laboratory testing and to identify if it is benign or abnormal or cancerous.
All fluid or material extracted during aspiration or biopsy is sent to laboratory for assessment and results are usually available within three days. The laboratory report can help determine whether you need additional surgery and decide your further treatment plan if needed.
- You or your doctor feels a lump or thickening in your breast, and your doctor suspects breast cancer
- Your mammogram shows a suspicious area in your breast
- An ultrasound scan reveals a suspicious finding
- Your breast MRI reveals a suspicious finding
- You have unusual nipple or areolar changes, including crusting, scaling, dimpling skin or a bloody discharge
10) What to expect during a breast biopsy?
At the beginning of all biopsies, consent will be taken and an opportunity to ask questions from the performing radiologist. After cleaning and sterilising the area of the breast targeted, local anaesthetic by means of injection will be given prior to conducting the biopsy
The biopsy is conducted only once the above criteria are met and you fully understand the need and the reason for the study
All the risks and benefits of the procedure are explained to you and consent is taken.
11) How do I prepare for a biopsy?
Before the breast biopsy, tell your doctor if you:
- Have any allergies
- Have taken aspirin in the last seven days
- Are taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants)
- Are unable to lie on your stomach for an extended period of time
If your biopsy will be done using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tell your doctor if you have a cardiac pacemaker or other electronic device implanted in your body or if you're pregnant or think you may be pregnant. An MRI generally isn't recommended under these circumstances.
Wear a bra to your appointment. Your health care team may place a cold pack against the biopsy site after the procedure, and the bra can hold the cold pack in place and provide support for your breast.
12) What happens after a breast biopsy?
With all types of breast biopsy conducted in the imaging department, you'll go home with only bandages and an ice pack over the biopsy site.
You should refrain from exercise for a day or two as bruising is common after core needle biopsy procedures.
To ease pain and discomfort after a breast biopsy, a cold pack and over-the-counter painkillers can be taken
We aim to have results available within three days after your specimens have been analysed by the pathologist who examines the sample using a microscope and special procedures.
The pathologist prepares a pathology report that is sent to your doctor, who will share the results with you. The pathology report includes details about the size and consistency of the tissue samples, the location of the biopsy site, and whether cancer, noncancerous (benign) changes or precancerous cells were present.
Your result is always reviewed and in the event of an abnormality, presented at the multidisciplinary team meeting for discussion to decide on further management approach.
13) I need a breast MRI. What should I expect?
Please arrive for your appointment half an hour earlier than your time slot.
You will be asked to fill in a questionnaire and will be provided a gown to wear. You should remove all your clothes and jewellery. An intravenous line will be established by the nurse for contrast injection which makes the blood vessels and tissue on the MRI easier to see.
The radiographer and nurse will help you position yourself face down on the bed with your breasts suspended in two dedicated cups that contain coils to detect a magnetic signal from the MRI machine The bed slides feet first into the large, central opening of the MRI machine.
You will be given a headset to wear so that once the scan starts and radio magnetic waves are directed to your body, You will not hear the loud tapping and thumping sounds coming from the machine. The radiographer will monitor you from another room but you will be able to speak to them through a microphone. While you are to lie as still as possible, you will be able to breathe normally. The study can vary but takes approximately 45 minutes.
When your MRI is completed, the images are sent to the breast radiologist for review and the report will be sent to referring clinician once this has been reported.
14) What is the advantage of visiting Mediclinic City Hospital’s Breast Centre?
A visit to our Breast Centre has many advantages.
We have dedicated breast radiologists, breast and oncoplastic surgeons, breast care nurses, skilled breast pathologists, radiotherapy and chemotherapy all under one roof.
The department has state of the art equipment including digital mammogram and tomosynthesis/US/3 T MRI/ contrast enhanced mammography and PET scan
All breast sonography is conducted by the breast radiologist and you have the possibility to consult with the radiologist during the procedure.
Specifically in breast radiology we have a multinational team that speaks 15 languages.