I had my 2006 mammogram yesterday. I believe that every woman 40 and older should be tested once a year. At one point doctors talked about doing the test every other year, but ultimately they returned to the once a year schedule for the best diagnostic coverage.
\nMy oldest niece developed breast cancer last year. She has had extensive surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and we’re hoping for the best. A mammogram is an unpleasant test, but it’s well worth it to get early warning if you’re developing cancer.
\nWe changed health care providers this year. I switched from one major hospital affiliate, to a completely different hospital system. I got to my appointment, filled out the information, and went in for the test. It was significantly different. This time I was compressed TEN TIMES! I thought she’d never finish. I was getting really tired of being pushed and pulled and grasped, and of course, now I’m worried that she saw something she wanted to highlight on the films.
\nIf I’m fortunate and dodge the bullet, I may go back to the previous site where I had mammograms done. You can bet that I won’t be going back to THIS site. If nothing else, I’ll go to the hospital to have my mammogram done.
\nI apologize if I’ve frightened someone who is getting ready for their first mammogram. The test is bearable. You can get through it. I did, but I think it could have been done better. If you have any concerns, ask one of the women in your family, or a friend, for a referral to someone they trust.
\nBy the end of the month, I should get a copy of the report. Just why is it that the doc gets them in five days, and it takes them ten days to tell me about my own body???<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I had my 2006 mammogram yesterday. I believe that every woman 40 and older should be tested once a year. At one point doctors talked about doing the test every other year, but ultimately they returned to the once a … Continue reading