How to Prepare for Your Mammogram: The No-Deodorant Rule and Other Day-Of Tips
By Kamandeep Chhabra, CCPA, MRT(N) — Director of Operations & Physician Relations, Limeworth X-Ray & Ultrasound, Hamilton
The big one: skip deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, lotion and perfume on your chest and underarms the day of your mammogram — they can show up as spots that mimic calcifications and trigger a needless callback. Wear a two-piece outfit, bring your health card and any prior breast images, and if you can, book the week after your period when breasts are least tender. The exam itself takes about 15 minutes. |
A mammogram is a quick, routine appointment — but a few small preparations can make it more comfortable, more accurate, and less likely to send you back for a repeat. Here’s the simple checklist I give patients, starting with the one rule people are always surprised by.
Rule Number One: No Deodorant (and No Powders, Lotions or Perfume)
On the day of your mammogram, don’t wear deodorant, antiperspirant, talcum powder, body lotion, or perfume on your breasts or underarms. It sounds fussy, but there’s a real reason: many of these products contain tiny metallic or mineral particles that show up on the X-ray as little white specks. Those specks can look just like microcalcifications — one of the things radiologists watch for — which can lead to an unnecessary callback for more images.
If you forget and apply some out of habit, don’t panic. Most clinics have wipes so you can remove it when you arrive. But skipping it from the start is the cleanest approach.
Time It With Your Cycle, If You Can
If you’re still having periods, try to book your mammogram for the week after your period ends. That’s when breasts tend to be least tender, which makes the brief compression more comfortable. The week right before your period is usually the most sensitive time, so it’s the one to avoid if you have a choice.
Some women find that easing off caffeine for a few days beforehand reduces breast tenderness too. The evidence is mixed, but if it helps you, it’s harmless to try.
Dress for an Easy Appointment
Wear a two-piece outfit — a top and bottoms rather than a dress. You’ll only need to undress from the waist up, and you’ll be given a gown, so a separate top means you stay comfortable and can change quickly.
It’s also worth choosing a day when you’re not rushed. The appointment itself is short, but arriving a little early and relaxed makes the whole thing smoother.
What to Bring
Your health card (OHIP). You’ll need it for your covered screening.
Your requisition, if you have one. For a screening mammogram, women 40 to 74 can self-refer, so no requisition is needed. For a diagnostic mammogram, bring your doctor’s requisition.
Prior breast imaging or reports, if you’ve been screened at a different clinic. Comparison images help the radiologist and can actually reduce unnecessary callbacks.
A list of any breast concerns or changes to mention, and the date of your last mammogram.
What the Appointment Is Actually Like
The mammogram itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll undress from the waist up and put on a gown, and the technologist — at our clinic, always a woman — will position each breast on the machine and apply brief compression for a few seconds per image. The compression is what gives a clear picture, and it also lets us use a lower dose of radiation. It can feel like firm pressure, but it’s over quickly.
If you have breast implants or any mobility limitations, mention it when you book so we can plan the right approach and extra views.
After Your Mammogram
There’s no downtime — you can go straight back to your day, deodorant included. Results typically arrive by mail in about two weeks, and your family doctor is notified as well.
When you’re ready, women 40 to 74 can self-refer for an OBSP screening mammogram in Hamilton. Email your phone number to 849xray@gmail.com or call 905-574-7755, and we’ll find a time that works — Saturdays included. |
None of these steps are complicated, but together they make your appointment more comfortable and your results more reliable. A little preparation is the easiest way to get the most out of your screening.
If It’s Your First One, or You’re Nervous
First mammograms come with the most unknowns, so a little reassurance goes a long way. You’ll be in a private room with a technologist — at our clinic, always a woman — who does this all day and will guide you through each step. It’s completely fine to tell her you’re nervous or that something is uncomfortable; she can adjust and talk you through it. The compression lasts only a few seconds per image, and there’s no lasting soreness. If you have a disability, limited mobility, or breast implants, mention it when you book so we can plan extra time and the right technique. Walking in knowing what happens — undress from the waist up, a gown, a few quick images, done in about fifteen minutes — turns the appointment from a mystery into a routine errand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I wear deodorant to a mammogram?
Deodorants, antiperspirants, powders and lotions can contain particles that show up on the X-ray like calcifications, which can trigger an unnecessary callback. Skip them on your chest and underarms the day of your exam.
When is the best time to schedule a mammogram?
If you’re still menstruating, the week after your period is best, when breasts are least tender. Try to avoid the week just before your period.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear a two-piece outfit so you only undress from the waist up. Bring your health card, any prior breast imaging, and a requisition if it’s a diagnostic mammogram (screening for ages 40–74 doesn’t need one).
How long does a mammogram take?
About 10 to 15 minutes. There’s no downtime afterward, and results usually arrive by mail within about two weeks.
Limeworth X-Ray & Ultrasound is a proudly OBSP-participating, ICHSC-accredited diagnostic clinic on the Hamilton Mountain, near CF Lime Ridge Mall with Dynacare bloodwork right across the hall. Our experienced, compassionate female mammography technologists, modern digital mammography and breast ultrasound, and fast appointments (including Saturdays) make breast imaging easy. To book: For an OBSP screening mammogram, women aged 40–74 can self-refer — email your phone number to 849xray@gmail.com or call 905-574-7755. For a diagnostic mammogram or breast ultrasound, send your doctor’s requisition to the same address. 📍 Suite 102, 849 Upper Wentworth St, Hamilton, ON L9A 5H4 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm | Serving Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Burlington, Binbrook, Flamborough, Brantford & Paris. |
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