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 explicit cause, however I believe it has one thing to do with wanting to carry onto my youth in any approach potential. Significantly, I virtually acquired bangs. (Thanks to my associates who assured me it will be a mistake.)
One factor that wasn’t on my radar was getting a mammogram. In actual fact, 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 assumed 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 good age to get my first mammogram. Based on the United States Preventive Companies Job Pressure (USPSTF), ladies with a mean breast most cancers threat 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 obtained 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 might intervene with the screening machine.
Was I nervous? A bit. Largely as a result of I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. I had requested a few of my associates, 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, “Effectively, it’s uncomfortable, but it surely doesn’t harm. You’ll be wonderful.” The tone of her voice felt prefer it was a “ceremony of passage,” like a promenade, commencement, or marriage ceremony.
Once I arrived on the workplace, I obtained 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 via repositioning every breast to take a number of photos and angles. For me, it felt like my breasts had been being pinched. It was uncomfortable, but it surely was crucial for her to flatten them as a lot as potential to make sure she was in a position to get a transparent image of your complete breast. I took deep breaths all through your complete course of. She instructed me that my breasts had 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 harder. Due to this fact, she needed to take just a few extra X-rays than deliberate. Nonetheless, your complete course of took ten minutes in complete.
My outcomes had been out there in my on-line chart the subsequent day, and a message from my PCP mentioned that my mammogram was regular and that I ought to get my subsequent one in a 12 months.
Yearly Mammograms Are Necessary within the Battle In opposition to 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 reason behind most cancers dying amongst ladies within the U.S. For non-Hispanic Black ladies and Hispanic ladies, breast most cancers is the main reason behind most cancers dying. Concerningly, breast most cancers has been growing amongst youthful Asian American and Pacific Islander ladies.
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 may be at beating it. In actual fact, discovering breast most cancers early reduces the danger of dying from the illness by 25 to 30 p.c or extra.
That’s why getting a mammogram yearly is so essential to the combat in opposition to 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, but it surely’s additionally a present of well being I can provide to myself.
When to Get a Mammogram Earlier than You’re 40
Whereas breast most cancers screenings are advisable for girls starting at 40, about 4 p.c of all breast cancers identified within the U.S. happen in ladies beneath 40.
So, in case you are in your 20s or 30s, it’s essential to carry out breast self-exams as soon as a month about one to 2 weeks after your menstrual cycle to turn out to be conversant in the best way 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. For those who discover any modifications, contact your gynecologist instantly. They might schedule you for a mammogram. It’s additionally essential to go to your gynecologist for preventive care yearly, 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 ideas 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.
- Preserve your menstrual cycle in thoughts when scheduling. The examination may 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 potential to take high quality photos.
- Put on comfy clothes, particularly footwear. You’ll be standing through the examination.
- Breathe and loosen up. Sure, it may be uncomfortable, however tensing up might 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 your complete course of and can attempt to make the entire expertise as comfy as potential.
