The University Breast Center (UBC) provides a new product that may ease the discomfort many women feel when they have a mammogram. The foam cushion, called the MammoPad®, makes for a softer, warmer diagnostic test.

UBC is a certified Softer Mammogram Provider, a distinction awarded only to an elite group of healthcare facilities. By providing a more comfortable experience, the center hopes to increase the number of women in the area who follow recommendations for annual screenings. Mammograms are recommended for many reasons, including for women over the age of 40, those with a personal or family history of breast cancer and those who have never had children.

“The discomfort some women feel during mammography compression may be a reason that some do not get regular screenings,” says radiologist Kathleen Hudson, MD. “The firm edges of the mammography device may make the experience uncomfortable for some patients. The breast cushion answers these complaints by providing a soft, warm cushion for the breast during mammography. And, because women are more relaxed during the exam, it makes it even easier for our mammography technologists to get the best possible images.”

The single-use, adhesive-backed foam cushion attaches to the compression plates of the mammography device. It is “invisible” to X-rays and does not interfere with the image quality of the mammogram.

More information is available at the University Breast Center by calling 865.305.9069 or Toll-Free 866.337.8814, ext. 9069. You also may contact the Cancer Institute Breast Care Service by calling 865.305.6921 or Toll-Free 866.337.8814, ext. 6921.