2024 has been a giant yr for me. I turned 40 in April. It’s an age I’ve dreaded for the previous ten years. Not for any explicit motive, however I think it has one thing to do with wanting to carry onto my youth in any manner attainable. Critically, I virtually acquired bangs. (Thanks to my pals who assured me it could be a mistake.)
One factor that wasn’t on my radar was getting a mammogram. In reality, when my major care doctor talked about writing me a prescription for one at my yearly appointment final fall, I used to be shocked.
I assumed to myself, “However I’m too younger for a mammogram!” My physician assured me that I used to be not too younger and, in truth, on the excellent age to get my first mammogram. Based on the United States Preventive Companies Job Drive (USPSTF), girls with a mean breast most cancers threat ought to start receiving mammograms at age 40.
I known 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 intrude with the screening machine.
Was I nervous? A little bit. Principally as a result of I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. I had requested a few of my pals, who all turned 40 this yr, and it turned out that I used to be the primary one taking the plunge. I additionally requested my mother, and her reply was, “Effectively, it’s uncomfortable, however it doesn’t damage. You’ll be effective.” The tone of her voice felt prefer it was a “ceremony of passage,” like a promenade, commencement, or wedding ceremony.
Once 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 might 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 photos and angles. For me, it felt like my breasts have been being pinched. It was uncomfortable, however it was needed for her to flatten them as a lot as attainable to make sure she was capable of get a transparent image of your entire breast. I took deep breaths all through your entire 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 may generally make detecting a most cancers tougher. Due to this fact, she needed to take just a few extra X-rays than deliberate. Nonetheless, your entire course of took ten minutes in complete.
My outcomes have been obtainable in my on-line chart the following day, and a message from my PCP stated that my mammogram was regular and that I ought to get my subsequent one in a yr.
Yearly Mammograms Are Essential within the Battle In opposition to Breast Most cancers
Breast most cancers is the second most typical most cancers amongst girls within the U.S. It’s additionally the second-leading reason for most cancers loss of life amongst girls within the U.S. For non-Hispanic Black girls and Hispanic girls, breast most cancers is the main reason for most cancers loss of life. Concerningly, breast most cancers has been rising amongst youthful Asian American and Pacific Islander girls.
Whereas mammograms don’t forestall breast most cancers, they’ll save lives as a result of they’ll discover breast most cancers early. And the sooner it’s discovered, the higher probability there’s at beating it. In reality, 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 every year is so vital to the struggle 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 beneficial for girls starting at 40, about 4 % of all breast cancers recognized within the U.S. happen in girls beneath 40.
So, in case you are in your 20s or 30s, it’s vital to carry out breast self-exams as soon as a month about one to 2 weeks after your menstrual cycle to develop into aware of the best way your breasts usually appear and feel in order that will probably be simpler to determine any modifications or abnormalities, like lumps or pores and skin discoloration. If you happen to discover any modifications, contact your gynecologist straight away. They might schedule you for a mammogram. It’s additionally essential to go to your gynecologist for preventive care every year, 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 here are some useful suggestions to bear in mind earlier than your first mammogram:
- Make the appointment earlier than you flip 40 so that you’re able to go after your birthday.
- Hold your menstrual cycle in thoughts when scheduling. The examination might 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 should negatively have an effect on the machine’s capability to take high quality footage.
- Put on snug clothes, particularly sneakers. You’ll be standing throughout the examination.
- Breathe and loosen up. Sure, it may be uncomfortable, however tensing up might make it extra uncomfortable. So, take deep breaths throughout the course of, and will probably be over earlier than you realize it.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The technicians will information you thru your entire course of and can attempt to make the entire expertise as snug as attainable.
