posted on August 16, 2001 03:40:22 PM new
Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, and even if they have had them before, there is still fear. But there is no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared for the test, and best of all, you can do these simple practice exercises right in you own home.
Exercise 1: Open your refrigerator door, and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds. Repeat in case the first time wasn't effective.
Excercise 2: Visit your garage at 3 am when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off all your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor sideways with one breast wedged under the rear tyre of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Switch sides, and repeat the process for the other breast.
Exercise 3: Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Have the stranger press the bookends against either side of one of your breasts and smash the bookends together as hard as he/she can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next year to do it all again.
posted on August 16, 2001 04:04:16 PM new
But it is so True, True, True. Just the thought of a mammogram sends shudders through me. Why do they have to inflict so much pain, and why are the people performing this procedure so sadistic. They seem to take such joy from the discomfort they create.
posted on August 16, 2001 04:04:25 PM new
nettak...
No way. To be truly prepared, you need someone standing by to tell you, after each procedure... "Not clear...iffy spot...you need an ultrasound... But, don't worry about a thing, Dear." (BTW "Dear" is one of those New England things.)
posted on August 16, 2001 04:08:49 PM new
I was drinking a soda when I starting readying this - I had to clean my monitor off because I was laughing so hard. Thanks for the laugh!
posted on August 16, 2001 04:15:21 PM new
Hi Toke, I have been through that particular scenario. I was too scared to respond, but if I had my time over again I would probably deck the stupid doctor. We had already been told that there was a problem, that is why I was there in the first place, but then they tell you that there is a mass and they need to do further tests including an ultra sound scan, and then they go off and leave you alone with your thought running wild through your mind. That was probably one of the most frightening times of my life.
They went out and told my husband that they had found a problem and I would be at least another couple of hours. Then they would not let him come in because it is a womens only clinic. He nearly freaked out, because I had already been there 5 hours and with the stress we had already had building up to that appointment it is a wonder he did not spit the dummy.
posted on August 16, 2001 04:17:49 PM new
MurphyBird, you are welcome. I printed this out and sent it out to everyone I know because it was so good.
I forgot to tell you that it came from a Cancer Clinic and is given out to all those who attend. I guess it is a lighthearted way to look at what women go through.
posted on August 16, 2001 04:26:21 PM new
Yeah...joking aside, it's horrifying. Three of us were in there, waiting...and bonded big time. My tests turned out okay. The woman who spent the time reassuring me...who'd had cancer before and beat it...wasn't so lucky. I stayed with her for hours, because she was alone there, and in an extremely bad way. The 32 year old (with a very scary family history) was still there when I finally had to leave. Bad stuff.
The main reason I was so terrified was that I'd been too lazy (and chicken) to have one for 3 years. Figured if they found something...it would be too late, you know?
There's no upside to skipping the mammo...only down. Better early, than late...right?
posted on August 16, 2001 06:24:27 PM new
I was lucky as well, but I do know a lot of women who have not been lucky with their results.
I told my husband that if there was even a hint of cancer I would have no hesitation in having a mastectomy. Yes it would be traumatic but at least it would give me a fighting chance. There is a family history, my grandmother had her breast removed many years ago.
The Breast Screening Clinic that I went to is one of the biggest and best in my area, and I have to admit it is not at all like I expected it to be. They have this big quilted wall hanging that is so beautiful to look at, and when you read the plate at the base of it, you get goose bumps, because it is made up from items donated by women who have had a breast or breasts removed.
Pieces of beautiful lacy bras and nighties make up a lovely centre piece, the outside is embroidered with poetry written by some of these women and it is so moving that even through your own fear you can see beauty and peace.
Spaz, I am so glad we can help you keep abreast of things.
posted on August 16, 2001 07:25:49 PM new
Doesn't anyone have the brains to lay a heating pad on the equipment for a little before they press it against your bare flesh?
I would certainally tell them if they are too low wattage to figure it out.
posted on August 16, 2001 11:15:39 PM new
You can bet that if men had to go through this a better alternative would be invented but pronto. You can also bet that they don't test for testicular cancer by mashing men's testicles flat.
posted on August 16, 2001 11:45:08 PM new
Gosh I was reading thinking this was going to be a serious and reassuring thread.
You all haven't helped me a bit! I had a lump 4 years ago when I was pregnant and I didn't let anyone even touch me against my doctor's wishes. I was just terrified. Thankfully it was just a complication of pregnancy and it went away. I have not had a mammogram yet.
There was a dancer with Ballet Magnificat that had cancer at a very young age. She danced again (whole after reconstruction) 17 months after having both breasts removed. It was such a story of joy and success and she would tell her story at the performances. Then not too long ago I visited their web site to see it said "In memory of...her name"
Just took my breath away to read that.
T
posted on August 17, 2001 12:36:17 AM new
I have to admit that at 46, I've never had one. And I probably won't unless I discover something in my manual exam.
Just an FYI: Canadian research that I read somewhere (and I don't have the source, but it wasn't a tabloid or anti-medical thing) showed that the success in finding cancer was about the same whether a woman had mammograms or clinical manual exams (i.e. a nurse or doctor, not the ones we do in the shower).
It's just a personal choice for me, and not something I recommend to anyone else. I know the risks.
If mammograms hurt, and you have a good doctor, isn't it possible to ask for an ultrasound? I had one for some uterine fibroids, and I thought the technician told me ultrasound could be used to check breasts, and that it was actually more accurate for detecting growths, lumps, etc. than the mammogram technology currently used.
posted on August 17, 2001 01:59:58 AM new
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that women who have their breasts smashed flat on a yearly basis are at a higher risk for breast cancer...or that the practice *caused* the big C!
I've had it done once. That was enough, thank you. I also don't visit the gynecologist every years as they exhort you to, either. Just what you need--a relative stranger thrusting his or face & hands into your crotch. Not to mention the speculum...the very last time I went to my gynecologist he told me if I would just relax "it wouldn't hurt at all." I told *him* to bend over & see how relaxed he would be with a large, metal object being rammed inside *him*. Funny, he didn't find that amusing...
posted on August 17, 2001 02:38:00 AM new
bunnicula, I see you and I have had some of the same experiences. About two years before I actually needed it done, a male gyn, on my first visit to him, calmly announced I need a hysterectomy. Well, I cried. He wanted to know why I was upset. I asked him how he'd react if someone had just told him he needed his testicles cut off. He said it wasn't the same - because my uterus did show! OMG
My next exam was with a female doctor. She said I was fine, and because there was no cancer involved, I could have the surgery when and if I wanted. She also mentioned that she loved doing surgery, but that she didn't cut just to cut.
While I have had an excellent male gyn since, I've opted for a female whenever possible. As for the speculum, I pretty much insist on the smaller plastic one they use for teenagers. They claim it hurts (pinches) more, but I stand my ground - it doesn't.
(I'll remember that line about him bending over if ever I run into a dolt like that again in the exam room.)
posted on August 17, 2001 02:50:55 AM new
The speculum is just part of the whole, no matter the size. I'll pass.
I was the opposite of you. I had to fight to get *my* hysterectomy. I had problems with the "curse" from the get-go (in 7th grade). In my late teens I went to twice per month, with more problems. Doctor even gave me a DNC to see if that would fix things. Nope. Put me on the Pill. Nope. Another DNC. Nope. On the Pill again. Nope. More of the Pill. Nope. The Pill, again. Nope. Finally, when I was 29, I'd had enough. Asked for a hysterectomy. The Doctor said, let's try the Pill again for 5 years & see what happens then! I *demanded* a hysterectomy. I then had to argue with him for over 3 months. Told him I did *not* want to go forth & populate the earth. He said "What if you get married?" I told him that if I were to get married, and if my husband wanted to hear the pitter-patter of little feet around the house, he could buy himself a Cocker Spaniel. And to give me the damn hysterectomy before I qualified for my pension. Nipped my troubles in the bud! I've been happy as a clam (& laughing at my friends once a month) ever since.
I think the reason so many of us think this is funny is because it is such a serious thing and any chance to lighten the fear is welcome.
I had one done at one of those mobil testing units and they sent me a registered letter to tell me that I needed to have follow up tests because the found a mass. Fortunately, after much time and worrying, it turned out only to be a cyst. I fear my next mammogram, so I appreciate the humor to help me get through it.
posted on August 17, 2001 04:36:42 AM new
Yes MurphyBird you are spot on with the reason behind this post. Most of us do fear the dreaded Mammogram, and it is always best to laugh at your fear, or at least I find it helps me anyway. Laughter is a great stress reliever.
This is meant to be a lighthearted view of what most women go through at some stage in there lives. It is an unfortunate thing but for some of us it is a fact of life.
Sadie, I am not sure that the ultra sound can pick up the very early stages of cancer. We have always been told that the mammogram can pick up the very beginning stages of cancer, and once they pick that up they then can do the ultra sound scan to determine the extent of the tumor. Now I don't know if that is 100% but this is what I remember the doctor telling me some time back.
posted on August 17, 2001 06:52:41 AM new
bunnicula - I have to hand it to you - you got to me. Your comment about testing for testicular cancer made me involuntarily pull everything right up inside about like stumbling into a bear in the woods. Flight or fight reaction.
I agree with you guys - I would not have a female doctor messing with my tender parts as they can't personally know what hurts or not.
Don't blame you for wanting some empathy at all.
posted on August 18, 2001 10:03:42 AM new
nettak - Leave it to you to start a thread with humor about an uncomfortable exam. I love your humor.
Here's a couple of clips I just received today.
Whoever thought up the word "Mammogram"? Every time I hear it, I think I'm supposed to put my breast in an envelope and send it to someone.
- Jan King-
And for bunnicula -
A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who never owned a car.
- Carrie Snow-
Seriously, while we know it is an uncomfortable exam, I worked at a Mammography Medical Center and know the benefits of early detection. It saves lives. Finding a lump when in it's early stages increases the chances of surviving breast cancer. The larger it grows, the better chance of it spreading to other tissues and organs. By the time a lump can be 'felt' it's usually pretty big.
Recently on the news, a report stated that the monthly personal exam woman have been told to practice (for years) can really be harmful. Reason stated was that it gives women a false sense of security, when in fact there may be a lump there that is still too small to feel. So....to each her own.
The OBGYNs that I worked with recommended all women have a 'base line' mammogram around the age of 30 - 35. That way there is film to compare the later mammograms with. (To see if there have been any changes since the last one.)
I don't know what the latest AMA recommendation is, but unless a woman has a family history of breast cancer then a year exam was recommended only once every two years after the age of 40 and every year after the age of 50. These recommendations have probably been revised in the last 10 years.
While it may feel that our breasts are going to burst, or that the test alone could cause problems, rest assured that few woman who have breast implants have had theirs burst while going through this 'squeeze' test.
Ever notice how all of women's problems start with men? And when we have real problems, it's HISterectomy!
Linda K over here in Australia the push is always on for women over 40 to have mammograms and once you reach that magical age you can go to the free mammogram clinic and have it done. But try to get an appointment before you turn 40 and you may be told you will have to wait until you are 40, as was the case with me. The first time I had to have one I was 36 and very scared, my doctor had found a lump in a very unlikely place and I was given a referral to one of the clinics'.
But when I rang them to make an appointment I was told that I would have to wait until I had turned 40 before I could enter there hallowed halls. I can remember getting almost hysterical, and I am not normally a cry baby type of person (or at least I wasn't until I hit menopause ).
Anyway I had to go back to my doctor and she had to ring around to find a clinic who would see me and I ended up going to a wonderful private clinic. Okay so I could afford to do that, but what about the women who can not afford to pay, do they wait the time out and maybe pay an awful cost.
I can never understand why they only encourage women over 40 to have a regular check ups, cancer can happen at any age.
On a funny note, I have a friend who has breast implants and she is always so terrified to have her breast check, in case it bursts. She apparently instructs the technician on when she thinks her breast is pressed enough. I wish I could be a fly on the wall, I bet the techie is none to pleased. It probably makes her close that vice even harder. LOL
posted on August 19, 2001 11:06:26 AM new
Hi nettak - One of the things I asked the radiologist when I worked at the Mam. office was why, in his reports, he always included the % of density the patient had in her breasts. He told me that the more 'dense' (firmer) the breasts are, the harder it is to detect small cancers (lumps). Being dense it's harder to 'see' through the breast the breast tissue. That's one of the reasons they use such pressure to flatten out our breasts.....they flatter they are, the easier it is to see through our breast tissue and detect any growths.
As we age, or have children, our breasts become less dense (wow - do they, especially after breastfeeding the babies) and are less dense, therefore easier to see through.
So, I believe that is one reason it's not as beneficial for a younger woman to have a mammagram done as the high density of their breasts reduce the accuracy of a mammogram anyway. Of course, if there's a history of breast cancer in the family where one might be more likely to develop breast cancer.
Also as we age our estrogen levels decrease. Studies have shown that women who use the HRT (harmone replacement therapy) are gaining more breast density, which reverses again when they stop the HRT.
posted on August 27, 2001 02:04:14 AM new
in this day and age women should not wait until they are 40 to get their first mammogram. With all of the pollution in the air and water etc etc and in the last 2 decades the amount of overly processed chemically preserved foods and beverages the rates of breast cancer are reaching into the 25-30 age groups.
Self examination is a good thing but not enough.
Ultra sounds are not enough as they are simply an electronic scan of what you could find in a manual exam.
A mammography and the smoosh and push is to get under the mammary gland and against your ribs where the ugly cancers can hide undetected in the first 2 forms of search.
I'm 28 and had to have one because I found a general tenderness under the gland that wouldn't go away after a period or diet change etc etc. After 4 months of a dull ache I got a mammogram. I had a series of little cysts hidden under there.
As it turns out it was somewhat due to high levels and long term pot-of-coffee-a-day caffeine overdose. I was told to cut WAY BACK on the caffeine. I also have to go back every year for another test just in case.
nettak, I'll remember your excersises for next years exams tee hee
But, don't worry about a thing, Dear." 
(BTW "Dear" is one of those New England things.)