Before I get into the details about how I found out about my breast cancer, I am going to take a minute to tell all you women** out there over the age of 40: GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM DONE ON TIME!! Sure, I know that mammograms stink. I can think of a lot of things I rather do first: clean my bathroom, clean my refrigerator, go to the dentist, do my taxes . . . you get the point. Who wants their boobs squished into individual horizontal and then vertical pancakes between two pieces of cold plastic while standing in a dim room trying to act casual as you silently freak out about whatever the imaging tech is seeing behind you on the screen? I know what it is like when they tell you NOT to use deodorant under your arms on the very day that you are probably sweating there more than usual. But, no matter the inconvenience or how uncomfortable it is or how nervous you are, DO NOT SKIP YOUR MAMMOGRAM.
Why am I harping on this point? Well, I didn’t skip my mammogram and they still found a tumor. I was on the two year cycle since they updated the mammogram guidelines. I asked my doctor after my diagnosis if I should have had a mammogram every year. He told me that my tumor is so fast growing that they probably would not have seen it last year. So, delay is not your friend.
After I was diagnosed, I lectured my girlfriends who are my walk/jog buddies on the necessity of getting your mammograms done on time. They both scheduled their mammograms and came up clean. Whew! Once this pandemic stuff is over — which it will be eventually — get thee to an imaging center and get your boobs squished if you have put off your mammogram!
OK. My Mammogram PSA is now over — but, I cannot promise I will not lecture some of you when I see you. If I find out you have put this off, I’m going to put on my mom pants and nag you until you go and get it done! Trust me: you don’t want that.
**NOTE: Men are not excluded from what I am talking about. MEN: If you have breast cancer in your family or feel a lump or bump on your chest, you should get checked out too. I don’t know if you get a mammogram or ultrasound, but you can and should be checked out. Breast cancer does not just affect women.
Making Lemonade 