How old were you when...

[Feralpeg]

LOL!! Good one.

However, I agree with Mr. Kramberries and I am Mrs. Roach. I'm also in my 40's, haven't had one and will likely never get one.

I also have a personal belief that the breast cancer rates went up astronomically once the mammograms started not because BC was being found more often, but because it was the machines themselves that were giving women breast cancer. Sure, that may sound backward and ignorant to those of you who've been conditioned to believe what the medical industry has fed you, but it works for me. I'm as healthy as a horse and severely limit how many gamma rays go through this body.

While I'm sure this will trigger many people telling me I'm stupid, ignorant, and am going to die young because I'm not doing what the medical industry tells me I should do, I think I'll stick with what works.

BTW, to the OP: if you believe that because you have BC in your family gene then you're going to get it, and starting your mammogram series at 20 and doing that every year for the rest of your life will somehow protect you, then by all means allow your parent/grandparents to pay for the screening. It's your life. Personally, I'm glad I'm not going to be pressured into doing this kind of thing because my friends and family believe pretty much the same thing: the medical industry does more harm than good because they want to make money. When we have no money for them to make, suddenly all these necessary tests become 'unnecessary'.

I agree that the BC rates went up when woman began having mammograms and have continued to rise, but I do not believe that the machines gave the woman cancer. I believe that the machines are so powerful that they find very small occurrences of BC. They find cancers that might not be found for several years depending on the type of cancer and the growth rate. They have saved many lives by finding the cancers early. By the way, I found my BC before I'd ever had a mammogram. I've had one a year since I was 31 and have not had a recurrence of BC. I'm now, 57. Given your theory, I should be a walking mass of cancer.

It is certainly your prerogative to do what you wish with your health. I just hope you don't some day regret your decision.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I also have a personal belief that the breast cancer rates went up astronomically once the mammograms started not because BC was being found more often, but because it was the machines themselves that were giving women breast cancer. Sure, that may sound backward and ignorant to those of you who've been conditioned to believe what the medical industry has fed you, but it works for me. I'm as healthy as a horse and severely limit how many gamma rays go through this body.

While I'm sure this will trigger many people telling me I'm stupid, ignorant, and am going to die young because I'm not doing what the medical industry tells me I should do, I think I'll stick with what works.

I respect your right to believe what you want and to not do routine mamms if you so choose.

But the fact is that estrogen is the fuel for most breast cancers. They are learning about environmental, nutritional and other causes, too, for example there has been some research into secondhand smoke exposure during the developmental years; and more recently intake of alcohol, etc. It wouldn't surprise me if in the future there is some link to gamma ray exposure, who knows. But the feeling right now is that the extremely small amount of radiation exposure for mammograms is worth the risk for catching breast cancers at an early stage.

It blew my mind to learn how many women died of breast cancer before modern times. There was no hope for them whatsoever. These days, it seems to me, it would behoove women to take advantage of the modern screening and treatment modalities we are fortunate enough to have available to us. One of the worst things that can happen when someone gets cancer is to say to themselves, "I should have...". It eats at you emotionally. Imagine dying with those types of regrets. Because once you get cancer, there's no going back.

 

[Pakey]

I also found my own cancer without having a mammogram.

Maybe it would not have been advanced stage breast cancer when I found it had I went for the mammogram.

Better to have gone once a year for a test that does no harm than to have gone through surgery, chemo, radiation, daily injections, etc. And then we can talk about medical expenses.

 

[KramBerries]

For that, he should have another area squeezed between the plates.

Hey, I volunteer to help with mammograms every year, but they always turn me down.

Seriously, I have a cousin with breast cancer. She was diagnosed about the time she turned 40. She's been fighting for about 6 years now but she's slowly losing the battle.

I know that recent studies claim that it is not cost effective for society as a whole to have everyone tested before they are 50, but I'm more safety conscious then most. I'd have it done much earlier, especially if there is a family history.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I was 31. I had found a lump. I had another at 35 becuase of another lump (actually in the same spot. It has come back agaon since but now we feel safe in letting it go for six months with monitoring by feel to see if it goes away on its own as it has before).

I did not think it was painful at all--just mildly uncomfortable. One thing, my breast tissue was too dense, both times, to really see anything (it is just one big black mass on the film) so I ended up going for ultra sounds instead. I was told younger women have denser breasts. At your age I might ask if a mamagram is really likely to show anything and if not would an ultrasound make more sense.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

At your age I might ask if a mamagram is really likely to show anything and if not would an ultrasound make more sense.

A baseline mammogram is not meant to find anything, necessarily. It's to document a "starting point" from which other films of the future can be compared, ie to help sort things out if something does show up in the future. Many women get a baseline in their 30's (like I did, which did turn out to be quite helpful) just as a starting point.

http://www.realage.com/check-your-health/womens-health/baseline-mammograms

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hey, I volunteer to help with mammograms every year, but they always turn me down.

Maybe they could put you to use down in the colonoscopy suite.

Seriously, I have a cousin with breast cancer.

Sign him up! http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/c...stics_for_male_breast_cancer_28.asp?sitearea=

I've had two friends of the male persuasion who've found lumps and - quite dramatically - had to go for full workups. It was a big eye opener for them how seriously it was taken. [Slam!! Squeeze!! Ouch!! ]

 

[aprilgail2]

I got mine in my early 20's---i was adopted so no family history was known!

 

[Piecey]

I was 19.

Same type of history in my family.

However, I was having a breast reduction so it was covered by insurance as one of my pre-surgery tests. My plastic surgeon used my families breast cancer history to get my reduction approved by insurance, though.

Anyway, I'd have it done.
They found some abnormalities on mine so I had spot compressions done. I got the go-ahead for the surgery and since the area with the abnormalities was going to be cut out my surgeon went ahead and sent it for extra testing. All was normal, which was a relief!

 

[wdwfan16]

There is not breast cancer in my family. My Dr. did a baseline at 35 and my next will be at 40. After that it will be every year or two. The Dr. prefers every year but says I can do it every two years is there is not problems and still not BC in my family.

 

[minkydog]

Yeah thats what my mom is trying to figure out about it being covered.

She AND my grandma want me to get it even if its not covered just so that we know. My grandparetns are willing to pay OOP for it.

Its a tough subject in my family. All 4 who had breast cancer went into remission adn then relapsed so my granparetns will pay anything they have to to make sure I get screened ASAP.

My grandma has the BRCA gene but my mom does not. It is possible that i have it but im not sure i want to get tested even though that could make the difference about me getting covered.

I can understand your grandparents' concern. I think I would have the mammogram and genetic testing done. I know you don't want to hear bad news, but trust me, better you know it so you can make appropriate decisions than not know it and potentiall lose your life.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Just had to post that I worked with a young woman who had a baby @ 21 yrs and then discovered a lump just a couple months later, which turned out to be cancer. There was a history in her family but I don't know exactly what that was. She was 30 when I worked with her and she was fine, but always got her check ups.