Yesterday was quite a day, three hours waiting and wondering. This is my 5th one, and I have just turned 40, which is the base line age for most women. Normally, I wouldn't share this but if it saves one life it will be worth it.
I had breast pain for about 3-4 weeks I had explained it away, but by Friday I knew it was at least worth a second look. I called the doctor, and they were able to fit me in that day, I found a lump.
I have a pretty strong family of breast cancer so I am always very conscious of how I feel, and I always pay very close attention to any changes in my body.
At 40 years old when most of my friends are going for their first breast cancer screening I'm already on mammograms number five. I don't live in fear, but I do believe in using wisdom, so screening, and early detection is key.
The doctor found the lumps I found and thought it was worth another look so he sent me for a mammogram and an ultrasound (make sure your doctors take care of you and check on any abnormalities, and if they don't YOU push it, don't play with your help). You never want to short change yourself and your family have a precious time so prevention is key.
Yesterday was the big day, 3 hours, my first 3D mammogram, and thank goodness they didn't find anything suspicious. Whew!
I'll be honest with you mammograms clearly have not made my top 100,000 but I realize the importance of honoring your body and paying attention to your health.
There's a standing joke at my house my husband always says that I'm using up all the health benefits, you betcha I am; I don't have a problem going to the doctor. Especially for something like this, having our boobies squeezed is not fun, but it's important. Everyday countless women find out that they wasted precious time by not getting their mammograms before the cancer spreads or grows. There is no reason for that these days. These screenings save lives!
Most women love to take care of other people but don't do a great job of taking care of themselves. I figured if nothing else, by sharing this story I could show women that getting a mammogram really isn't that bad, and that you shouldn't put it off any longer.
We've all heard stories of what mammograms are like. They are not great, but they are not that bad. A mammogram is an x-ray picture of your breast that allows them to see abnormalities before you can feel them. This allows for early detection of cancer, which opens up more options for treatment.
As I waited in the waiting room, there were women with many stories. Some of the women had been through this many times before, some were breast cancer survivors, and some were like me were just waiting for some kind of outcome and praying for the best. I told them I was writing an article about why women should get mammograms and I asked them if they had anything they could share. The survivor in the group shared one thing that was so poignant, you should get a mammogram because you love and care about yourself. I couldn't agree any more with her when she said that, I think about my aunt who died in her 30s, and her mother (my grandmother) who died when she was in her 40s. I imagine what those women and many more like them, would've done with just a couple more years of life.
I wonder about their children, my mom and her siblings, and my cousins who lost their mother so early in their lives, and all that they missed. If you can't do it for yourself, think about those you will leave behind if your fears or other stop you. Your life is precious, do what you need to do to take care of it.
Ladies love yourself enough to get your boobies squeezed. Make it a group exercise, go with your friends make a group appointment and then have lunch or dinner and get survivor shirts. Whatever you need to do, do it! I don't want any women in my circle of influence to be here one less day, because they didn't go and get their boobies squeezed!
Women your baseline mammogram should be done at 40 years old, and then you should get one every year. If you have a family of breast cancer, you start at 35. If you have breast, you should be doing monthly breast self-exams, every month period!
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