Do you have any history of breast cancer in your family, that you know of?

I'd personally go every six months, at least a few times, just to be on the safe side.

Sure---I just had a mammagram procedure TODAY, after a three year wait---the unit's all been moved to a
hoity-toity section of AMC---all brand new and clean---and it HURT more than ever---I told the nurse she'd given me a bloomin' TOOTHACHE with all that yanking and pulling my lips down over my ding-dang JAW!!!!!!
SHEEESH!

There was a time, years back, when they did one every
6 mos. for a year and a half, after removing fluid from a cyst---there were no problems.

Man; next time I go in that place, they'd better have a G&T waiting for me when I come outta there!

Good question Tish, you just bollstered my "they're in panic mode" argument. No one ever. We have high blood pressure, low blood pressue, strokes.... No diabetes or cancers thus far. On either side.

KJ, I was trying to make G&T fit "young male" some how. Seriously. I finally figured out gin and tonic. Wouldn't that be a hoot, chippendales in the waiting room?! Good luck on yours!

Our facilities do the screening right then and there, and if they're worried an ultrasound. Right then and theree. It's efficient, but it's pricey (and overkill!)

Robin---it's only overkill if nothing shows up!
You're young and healthy.
If they think something needs investigating, let them do it---you can't bring back yesterdays' health if something is going on and you let it ride.
---just looking out for you AND LF!

Can I just say also, that I've got WEDDING so much on the brain, that I first read the title of this thread as "monogram question" LMAO

This is one of the better articles I have read on mammography and maybe I liked it because it mirrors my attitude on the issue. It's well written and gives a lot of perspective to the pros and cons and what the procedure can and cannot do.

Here is a link that might be useful: article in Women to Women

Suzy, that was a very interesting article with a lot of information for women of all ages.

Thank you for adding the link---it's making me think about switching from an HRT regime I've been on for a long time.

Why is it that I thought that you had already survived cancer? Am I getting you mixed up with soemone else?

Plantfreak,
You might be thinking of our own dear Marda.

No, i too remember Robin mentioning she had a bout with some type of cancer. Anyhow there is no such thing as "over kill" when screening for breast cancer. Im surprised ANY woman would suggest this.

Tish, you relish wedding on the brain. It's so heartening to see it.

Marilyn, mine was choricarincoma (from hydatidiform pregnancy), without metastases (but even that was a close break through of the wall). Tumor removed in 1993. I'm still here! and a child after it. They keep telling me he's not supposed to be here. So you were right, but wrong area. Not only Marda, but also LindaC. Keep them in your thoughts!

Thanks Suzy, I just got this so I will look at the article. I know I can't get it back, but there are times I just think waiting is better. I am no longer have my "annual" avaialble to me with their description of a benign spot. 80% of the time, nothing happens. That's a good percentage. But I will read.

Robin,if you've had an aggressive cancer which yours was,why on earth wouldn't you want to stay vigilant? Some of those guidelines are ridiculous and if they haven't already are about to be changed. To tell women they no longer need to self examine is unbelievable. I have stage 4 ovarian cancer,which means I won't survive this. Several others here are survivors though.

Because they were in different areas. And because I'll go once a year. Because I have absolutely no risk factors. Because it's benign. I promise you, I am not ignoring what my health providers are saying, I'm only weighing how often. I'll tell you now, I'll go. Kicking and screaming, but I'll go. I think it's more about how once I take a step (I'm crying thinking about it) towards admitting there's a possibility of a serious problem, it just hurts. I'm just sick to death of being sick. That's what it's about.

Yes, you will survive Marda. You will.

Robin, I had the same problem 2 years ago, had to come back after 6 month but am now back on every 2 years.

I am 11 years out now....seems like yesterday doesn't it?
I had no risk factors...but I was 62. The older you the more chance for cancers of all sorts, especially breast cancer.
I currently have a young (46) friend who had a double mastectomy last august....she had no risk factors, no family no HRT, excercized to the max, breast fed 3 kids...didn't drink to excess etc etc. She discovered a lump less than a year after her last mammogram and it was a very aggressive sort of cancer....and anyhow she had the surgery, reconstruction, chemo and is now half way through a year if herceptin therapy...infusion every 3 weeks.
If that "spot" were mine...I would say please take it out....see what it is and be done with it....
And for sure I would be beating down the door of the radiology lab for my mammogram....and be checking that lump every day to see if it was changing. LOL!!
I have another friend....who had a lump they were watching....and they watched and it turned into cancer...or they found out it's cancer, and 8 years ago she had the mastectomy and reconstruction. She says now, I should just have said....don't watch the thing....cut it out!!
I know it's awful to come to grips with the thoughts that you may have something nasty in your breast....but....you may.
keep your eye on it!! If it grows know about it!!!
Linda C

Linda...where does the time go? Has it really been eleven years since you went through all that? I remember your sharing your experiences,the ups and downs, and your humor. How can that have been a decade ago?

"She says now, I should just have said....don't watch the thing....cut it out!!" Now that is something to which I can fully relate. If they find one more thing wrong with the other area they're watching, it's all getting removed (1/2 is already gone). Thank you for making it something I can understand and not feel alone!

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. Coming to grips with something is just not my favorite thing in life. I see the common thread like I did with dysplasia, but it is certainly going the other way. Like you Linda, I had a friend who waited and watched for 18 months and finally had it removed.

I'm very glad y'all are still here.

I finally stopped getting mammagrams about 10 years ago and I am 73. They were so painful that I couldn't stand it, so I stopped getting them. There is no history of breast cancer in my family and I do lead a healthy leftstyle.

I am 73 and relieved that the my doctor said after 73, we don't have to get them. Whew!

I had a friend....died a painful death, of breast cancer....she was 84. She was diagnosed....chose to just have a mastectomy and no radiation at about 81....It came back,,,,and she had a very miserably time....went to her bones...
Blue Heron....change doctors!

Amen that Linda....had my dear Aunt diagnosed in her 80s and she died a miserable death too.

My mom had been on HRT therapy for over 45 years, and was diagnosed two years ago. Very common statistically, but all those doctors telling us 40 years ago that this was the way to stay comfortable and womanly, etc, it now all these women with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy, and free and clear since then. But I for one will never do HRT, and never have.
I go once or twice a year, and they will never find a painless way until we politically agitate and throw over a few tables and yell and scream and make them put THEIR whatsis in that thing.