Guys, close your eyes.
So, I’m going in on the 31st for my first mammogram. This scares the hell out of me because from what I’ve heard, your breasts get squooshed down and flattened out like pancakes, and with my breast size, I just can’t imagine it being possible. Yes I know it IS possible, I just can’t and don’t want to imagine it.
I don’t have insurance, but luckily (because I don’t have insurance and I’m forty) I qualify for BreastCare, which pays for one free breast exam and pap per year, and a free mammogram, and treatment if any problems are found. The reason I called them is because of constant pain in the left side of my left breast (here I’m reminded of Selina’s play idea entitled “my left breast’s left breast” or something like that), which is unlike any other breast pain I’ve ever had .
So ladies, let’s talk. And guys who read this anyway, you can talk too.
The mammogram should not hurt. However, it will get almost to the point of pain, but it’s mostly just uncomfortable as hell.
A friend of mine, who is a couple of years younger than me and a breast cancer survivor, described a cancerous lump like “a pebble in a bowl full of grapes.” Granted that added to me nearly shitting myself when the clinic called me back for an ultrasound, and then a biopsy for a “grape.” Also why I will suck it up and get one anually now that they scared the shit out of me over “fibrocystic changes.”
Another friend has had at least 3 lumps removed, and she is like 8 years younger than me. All have turned out benign, and she blames them on the anthrax shots. Damn, I am glad I avoided those.
Oh wow, anthrax shots!
Well you’ve set my mind at ease, anyway, DL. Wonder what all the pain is about, though.
Yeah, that’s strange. Is it like surface pain, midway, or underneath?
Oh, and the slab thing they will pop it up on to “smash” it? Yeah, that thing is cold as hell!
It’s just like a constant pain, like surface, midway or underneath? How about all three, lol.
God, I’m scared as hell of that machine, and it’s cold too?
So like it’s the whole boob? Damn. That sucks. I’ve had one hurt for a few hours, but not all the time.
It’s only that cold for the first one.
Today, I’m accompanying this woman I know to her last of 36 radiation treatments. Needed because they had found, through a mammogram, a “suspicious area” which turned out after a biopsy to be cancerous.
She said, frankly, her mammograms almost always hurt. On the other hand, after two operations, one for the biopsy and removal of a small area, the second to remove a golf ball size area for good measure and check her lymph nodes, they really didn’t hurt at all.
Do it!
I was scared the first time I had one too, because of all the horror stories. And it turned out to be like DL said, mostly just uncomfortable. It’s funny how as I get older, it doesn’t even bother me anymore when I have to whip ‘em out and have a stranger touching me…lol.
Glad you’re going. Oh, and just so you know, it’s not uncommon for them to ask a first-timer to come back in for another set of slides, because they are extra cautious because they have nothing to compare the first set to. So, don’t worry if they do, okay?
Today’s the big day. Best of luck!
WOW paul! That’s pretty scary. Yes I’m definitely going to have the mammogram.
Skye, thanks for that info. And frankly, I’ve never been shy to whip them out anyway, lol.
DL, you’re so nice to remember my big day and wish me luck!
Everyone, it turns out that I don’t get the mammogram today, but just the breast exam and pap. After the breast exam, THEN BreastCare will schedule me for the mammogram. So I’m off the hook for today, just have to “whip them out.” lol.
By the way, does anyone else think the word “mammogram” sounds like a live topless telegram?
“By the way, does anyone else think the word “mammogram” sounds like a live topless telegram?”
Not after having one, no.
Oh, didn’t mean to worry you.
Most young ladies like yourself haven’t a problem. It just takes a couple of days for them to regain their shape, I’ve heard.
http://cmoss.info/