2024 has been a giant 12 months for me. I turned 40 in April. It’s an age I’ve dreaded for the previous ten years. Not for any specific motive, however I believe it has one thing to do with wanting to carry onto my youth in any approach doable. Critically, I virtually bought bangs. (Thanks to my mates who assured me it could be a mistake.)
One factor that wasn’t on my radar was getting a mammogram. Actually, when my main care doctor talked about writing me a prescription for one at my yearly appointment final fall, I used to be stunned.
I believed to myself, “However I’m too younger for a mammogram!” My physician assured me that I used to be not too younger and, the truth is, on the excellent age to get my first mammogram. In keeping with the United States Preventive Providers Process Power (USPSTF), ladies with a mean breast most cancers danger ought to start receiving mammograms at age 40.
I referred to as to schedule my mammogram for late April and didn’t give it some thought once more till I acquired the alert that it was arising. The alert additionally reminded me to not put on deodorant, fragrance, lotions, or oils on the day of my examination as a result of they may intervene with the screening machine.
Was I nervous? A bit of. Largely as a result of I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. I had requested a few of my mates, who all turned 40 this 12 months, and it turned out that I used to be the primary one taking the plunge. I additionally requested my mother, and her reply was, “Properly, it’s uncomfortable, however it doesn’t damage. You’ll be positive.” The tone of her voice felt prefer it was a “ceremony of passage,” like a promenade, commencement, or wedding ceremony.
After I arrived on the workplace, I acquired a clipboard of papers to fill out, in addition to a wristband. Then, I waited for about quarter-hour earlier than I used to be taken again. The tech led me right into a room the place I may change out of my shirt and bra and right into a robe that opened within the entrance.
The tech then took me to an examination room and positioned my breasts in between two plastic imaging plates. She talked me by means of repositioning every breast to take a number of photographs and angles. For me, it felt like my breasts have been being pinched. It was uncomfortable, however it was vital for her to flatten them as a lot as doable to make sure she was in a position to get a transparent image of all the breast. I took deep breaths all through all the course of. She advised me that my breasts have been dense, which meant that my breasts had comparatively extra milk glands, milk ducts, and supportive tissue than fats, which might generally make detecting a most cancers harder. Subsequently, she needed to take just a few extra X-rays than deliberate. Nevertheless, all the course of took ten minutes in whole.
My outcomes have been accessible in my on-line chart the subsequent day, and a message from my PCP stated that my mammogram was regular and that I ought to get my subsequent one in a 12 months.
Yearly Mammograms Are Vital within the Struggle Towards Breast Most cancers
Breast most cancers is the second most typical most cancers amongst ladies within the U.S. It’s additionally the second-leading explanation for most cancers loss of life amongst ladies within the U.S. For non-Hispanic Black ladies and Hispanic ladies, breast most cancers is the main explanation for most cancers loss of life. Concerningly, breast most cancers has been rising amongst youthful Asian American and Pacific Islander ladies.
Whereas mammograms don’t forestall breast most cancers, they will save lives as a result of they will discover breast most cancers early. And the sooner it’s discovered, the higher likelihood there may be at beating it. Actually, discovering breast most cancers early reduces the chance of dying from the illness by 25 to 30 % or extra.
That’s why getting a mammogram annually is so necessary to the battle towards breast most cancers. For me, I’ve determined that I’ll name to make my mammogram appointment yearly on the week of my birthday. It’s an effective way to recollect to do it, however it’s additionally a present of well being I may give to myself.
When to Get a Mammogram Earlier than You’re 40
Whereas breast most cancers screenings are really helpful for ladies starting at 40, about 4 % of all breast cancers identified within the U.S. happen in ladies below 40.
So, in case you are in your 20s or 30s, it’s necessary to carry out breast self-exams as soon as a month about one to 2 weeks after your menstrual cycle to grow to be aware of the way in which your breasts usually feel and appear in order that will probably be simpler to determine any modifications or abnormalities, like lumps or pores and skin discoloration. When you discover any modifications, contact your gynecologist immediately. They could schedule you for a mammogram. It’s additionally crucial to go to your gynecologist for preventive care annually, as they carry out breast exams throughout your appointments, too.
No matter your age, breast self-exams and common gynecologist visits are instruments that assist detect breast most cancers early.
Suggestions for Your First Mammogram
Listed below are some useful suggestions to remember earlier than your first mammogram:
- Make the appointment earlier than you flip 40 so that you’re able to go after your birthday.
- Preserve your menstrual cycle in thoughts when scheduling. The examination will be extra uncomfortable proper earlier than or throughout your interval, when breasts are typically extra delicate.
- Don’t put on deodorant, lotion, fragrance, or oils, as it can negatively have an effect on the machine’s capacity to take high quality photos.
- Put on snug clothes, particularly footwear. You’ll be standing through the examination.
- Breathe and loosen up. Sure, it may be uncomfortable, however tensing up may make it extra uncomfortable. So, take deep breaths through the course of, and will probably be over earlier than you understand it.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The technicians will information you thru all the course of and can attempt to make the entire expertise as snug as doable.
