Made appt. for my first mammogram

[luvwinnie]

My dr. recommends the FIRST one at 35, then the next at 40, then every year. Anyone else go that early?

 

[monkeyboy]

All I can say is GOOD FOR YOU!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Yes. But I have not been in 2-3 years. Thanks for the reminder to schedule my appointment.

 

[meandtheguys]

Good for you! My first was at 40, but my sisters was at 35.

 

[Denine]

My doc has the same recommedation. I had my 1st last October where they of course found calcifications and have since had 2 more.

 

[js]

I've been every year since I turned 35, I'm 37. My maternal grandmother had breast cancer and I'm not chancing it. Every January I make an appt. for the obgyn and my mamo

 

[TEENEE]

My first was also at 35, the next one will be at 40.

I know you didn't ask but I want to mention that it is not as bad as some people make it out to be. The tech I had was wonderful. She explained everything and tried to make it as easy as possible. I would not describe it as painful, just uncomfortable at times. Good for you for being proactive.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Had mine at 34. My doctor said it was good to have a "clean" mammogram to compare later mammograms to.

I also paid extra to have a digital mammogram done. It supposedly catches things that techs might miss.

Good for you for getting one early.

Wishing everyone a "magical" day!

 

[julybride]

I had my first one at 40. I tried to schedule one between 35-40 but my timing was always off. (They had an opening, I was pregnant, have baby, remember to schedule again, here comes baby #2.)

Anyway got my results today, need to have alternative views of right breast ASAP, probably calcifications, but it needs to be checked. Left breast needs to be checked again in 6 mos - radioligist (sp) says it's a lymph node, but wants to be sure there are no changes.

So, it's never to early to be checked. All of my longtime girlfriends are turning 40 this year. I've decided to be the "nag" fairy and pester them until the schedule their mammograms. It is uncomfortable, but the alternative could be a lot worse! I've know a lot to these "girls" since we were children. I hope to have them in my life for a long time to come!

 

[Cruise04]

My first one was at 28, 7 years ago when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Then I went every other year until she died (almost 2 years ago) and now it's every year for me! And not only am I having mammograms but I also get a bi-lateral breast ultrasound to go deep where mammograms might not be able to go. I'm also very dense which is another reason.

BRAVO TO YOU!!!! And please, make sure you stay on top of it. I found out today that another of my mom's cousins is waiting on results of a lump she found. This is another reason why I will go yearly now. That would make my mom, my maternal grandmother, my paternal aunt (no cancer but pre-cancerous cells were found), and 2 of my mom's cousins (1 with a cancerous diagnosis and is doing fine and another one now waiting). Needless to say - my chances are very high that I may one day find cancer. Not to worry though - I have the same chances with colon cancer as well.

And a note on that - if you have any family members who have had colon polyps, the calculation for you to start having tests is to find out when the youngest family member first had a polyp show up and subtract 5. That is the age you start thinking about testing. I didn't know that until this year.

 

[Dan Murphy]

With Marie a breast cancer survivor of 6 years (and again looking at biopsy surgery here in a week or so), and a relatively high number of ladies here on the DIS who have had or are still in treatment, I have become acutely aware of the risk of incidence of breast cancer. One thing I would like to point out is that so many do occur at younger ages too. I know, for an example, Tiger Fan (Lisa) here, was only about 30 when dignosed several years back. And with Sylvia's anniversary in a few days, recalling she was in her middle 30's. Others here also in their 20's. Please do get those exams and BSE also, every month. And TSE for the guys too.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you all! I am a bit nervous about the, um, squishing! But I've been through a lot of pain in my life, so I'm sure i can take this.

 

[Teris]

I am 43, and tried to make an appointment for one recently at my Doctor's office,, as I had always heard that you should start them at least at 40. They wouldn't make one, as the NHS here in the UK, doesn't do them without reason until the woman is 50! I really was shocked at that! I had an Aunt and a cousin who deveoped breast cancer in their 30's! They said if I insisted they would do it,, but they don't like to do them until a woman is in their 50's.
Do you think this is outrageous?

It bothers me alot,, and I have decided to insist on having one done the next time I am there.

Why women over 50 are not invited to do breast screenings,, according to the NHS

 

[minniecarousel]

Good for you luvwinnie - and it really is not as bad as THEY say it is! The technique has improved over the years.

(Yikes! 50!? that just might be too late - have it done if they'll do it, Teris.)

 

[2bemarried]

Ditto to everything that Dan said!! I'm 27 and I had my first one last year. Thankfully the small mass that the doctor removed was benign...but I feel much better knowing that it's gone and that I've started the process early. Also my mother had breast cancer when she was about 36 or 37.

If you have a family history of breast cancer your first mammogram should be 10 years prior to the age the family member was when she was diagnosed with cancer.

It's SO important to constantly reinforce the need for mammograms and ultrasounds on a yearly basis. So many women ignore the possibility that they could be a victim of the disease. *off my soapbox now*

 

[2bemarried]

Luvwinnie......trust me...mine are rather large and the squishing was not painful at all. The technician will simply rest each one on a plate of fiberglass and slide the other plate down on top of it...thena quick picture is taken. The technicians are typically female and they know exactly what you're going through, so they try to be as gentle as possible. If you go in with a positive attitude you'll be just fine...I promise

 

[Cruise04]

luvwinnie - in regard to the pain. Here's something that cracks me up everytime I get the email....it's something to do with how to tell people what it's like to get a mammogram.

Open refrigerator door, take off clothes, hold breast up to edge of refridgerator and....SLAM THE DOOR!!!!

It's not even near that type of pain but I laugh everytime I read it. Not trying to scare you - just lightening the mood a little!

Luvwinnie......trust me...mine are rather large and the squishing was not painful at all. The technician will simply rest each one on a plate of fiberglass and slide the other plate down on top of it...thena quick picture is taken. The technicians are typically female and they know exactly what you're going through, so they try to be as gentle as possible. If you go in with a positive attitude you'll be just fine...I promise

Same here - and I have even found that if I go about 2-3 days before my menstrual cycle I don't have any pain. I know, very unusual but that works for me. Given that my first one was - get in here NOW - I didn't have a choice. I had a scare and had to go back and have one redone and it was during my menstrual cycle and it was more painful (my nipple inverted and they thought it was a lump and this was 2 weeks after my mom had been diagnosed - I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life).

 

[JESW]

I am 44 and have them every year - first was at 40. Just had my last one in April and I've got to say that they have gotten MUCH better in the last couple of years! This one was a breeze! Not exactly comfortable, but no way as bad as they used to be.

Jill

 

[Pugdog007]

Yep - just had my first one.

It doesn't hurt. Don't believe people who tell you differently.

 

[newholiday]

I go yearly
My older brother (52) had breast cancer a few yrs ago