Have a question you forgot to discuss at the doctor’s office?

Q: I’m due soon for my mammogram and wonder why I can’t wear deodorant, lotions or powders during the screening?

A: That’s a great question and one people often ask!

Mammograms are very sensitive. Even small amounts of deodorant, lotion or powder on the skin can show up on the images. Many of these products contain tiny particles, such as aluminum, that can appear as bright white specks on a mammogram and look very similar to calcifications.

Calcifications are common and usually harmless. In some cases, they can be an early sign of breast cancer, which triggers a radiologist to take a closer look. If the image is not clear, you may be called back for further imaging — even if it was just product residue.

Even though many clinics have wipes available to help remove these excess products if you forget, arriving with clean, product-free skin is the best way to get the most accurate results the first time and avoid having to return unnecessarily. Clean skin is especially important for people with dense breast tissue, where clear imaging is key to detecting subtle changes early.

Taking a few simple steps to prepare your skin, plus staying on schedule for mammograms, can help make every screening as effective and stress-free

as possible.

— Patricia Harkleroad, RT, lead mammography coordinator,

Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital

Q: My child’s pediatrician recommended a cholesterol screening. Is this standard?

A: Many parents are surprised to hear that cholesterol screening is now recommended for children between ages 9 and 11. This guidance from the American Heart Association and American College

of Cardiology is about prevention.

Heart disease does not suddenly appear in adulthood. The changes that lead to it often begin quietly in childhood. A one-time cholesterol screening blood test during these preteen years helps uncover hidden risks, including inherited cholesterol conditions that are not obvious from appearance, diet or activity level.

The intent is earlier prevention. We are moving from reacting to heart disease, to identifying risk much sooner and addressing it before long-term damage occurs.

For most kids, the blood test is simple. Normal results give families peace of mind. Elevated levels create an opportunity to focus on healthy habits early when routines are still forming and change is easier.

Lifestyle remains the foundation of heart health: daily movement, balanced meals, enough sleep and limiting ultra-processed foods. Early screening simply gives parents information so they can partner with their child’s provider and make informed choices over time.

Like vision or hearing checks, cholesterol screening is preventive. At your child’s next well visit, discuss cholesterol screening with your child’s provider.

— Jeremy Warner, DO, Samaritan Cardiology – Corvallis

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