Ladies, I hope you’re all getting your mammograms when they’re due. I usually get mine a year and one day after the last one but with the insurance issues, I waited this year til I started Medicare so it had been one year and three months since I’d had my mammogram and I was a bit concerned. There’s no breast cancer in my immediate family but having never had a baby, having had a total hysterectomy at a fairly young age (34), having taken hormones for too many years, and having had several lumpectomies for fibrocystic breast disease, I’m always anxious to get the report. Thankfully, it was a good report but please be sure to get your mammograms. They’re a bit of a pain, although I’m convinced the smaller the breasts, the less pain, because I don’t think they hurt much at all, but early detection is such a key to curing this horrible disease in most cases.
I would have assumed every woman, except those who may not have insurance and a way to pay for mammograms, would be having them regularly but my best friend for my entire life is my age and has never had one and will not have one and another good friend told me recently she won’t have one.
Everyone gets to make their own decisions and I’m not going to judge so, if you have your reasons for not doing it, that’s your choice. I think mammograms and colonoscopies are two things not to be missed, simply because treatment if found early can make such a difference.
There . . my first post of the day is me begging y’all to have routine medical tests and some of you would be harping on me to take statins, which I’ll never do. So, I guess we all have our own issues.
Karen says
Thanks Judy for that post. Having had breast cancer twice I’m a huge proponent of yearly mammograms. I would like to add one thing to your post – there are lots of resources for women who have no insurance and can’t afford the out-of-pocket expense. The Komen Foundation awards grants to underwrite the cost of mammograms. Also, Planned Parenthood provides free mammograms to those in need. Women can check with the American Cancer Society for help in finding resources in their area.
Ruth says
Recently had my mammogram done. I pay for the 3-D kind, $40 with insurance and SO MUCH LESS PAINFUL!!! The technicians say there isn’t a real difference(??!#%$#), but I am dense and full-busted and remember my sucking-in of breath as they ground down for just a little better image. Much easier with 3-D.
carolyn says
I just had one as well and it had been a few years, but all was well. As mine are smaller now that I’ve lost a lot of weight, I can tell you that they are no less painful than they were when they were bigger! Of course, with the pain from shingles, the mammogram sent me into a pain flare that lasted a week, so the fun continued well beyond the test itself. It will be a few years before I have another! My sister, who just turned 60 also refuses to have one and refuses to see a doctor. She’s very heavy, can barely walk and never feels well, but is afraid that the doctor will give her bad news. How does that make any sense? We all try to convince her to see the doctor but she absolutely refuses. So frustrating! Do you need statins with your keto diet and the weight loss?
montanaclarks says
Have a mammogram every year as I still use hormone patches. It’s worth it to me for peace of mind!
Donna says
I so agree with you! I have always had my yearly mammograms. I nagged my mother for many years to have a mammogram and she wouldn’t. Finally after 25+ years of my nagging she had one in October of 2015 and was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and had a mastectomy. I had nagged my younger sister for years and she wouldn’t. Finally after our mom had breast cancer, my sister had a mammogram in March 2016. She had stage 1 breast cancer. Early detection is the key!
Marsha B says
I do have a mammogram every year and until last year they had all been normal. Last year was a surprise. With no symptoms at all the mammogram detected breast cancer. It was so small even the doctors could not feel it yet but catching it early was a blessing. I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiation and now I am cancer free. It was no fun but I am so thankful it was caught so early. So I encourage everyone to go get it done.
Claudia says
I’m a twice a year girl because of being high risk. Mammogram tomorrow, then MRI in 6 months. Every year for the last 11 years since I had stomach cancer due to a rare gene mutation. At least I know about it and can be proactive. Thanks for the reminder.
danielle says
I get very frustrated though with the contradictory information given out about how frequent – and at what ages the frequency. I do put it off, but then I put off all my medical stuff. But I do try to remember to get them yearly – but I also get reminders – but funny – I just got my yearly reminder yet after my last one I was told I no longer needed to get them yearly. But now we need to find a new doctor etc
Joyce says
I get mine every year, because there is a history of breast cancer on BOTH sides of my family. 🙁 I also get the 3-D version, because I have very dense breast tissue. Fortunately, my insurance now pays for it. Over the years I have had several “call-backs”, and 1 biopsy. Luckily, everything has always been fine, but I am always on pins and needles until I find out. It is much better to find out early and take care of it. (I also get my colonoscopy on schedule, because, lucky me, there is a history of that in the family too…)
Lee says
I suppose I’m a bit blase about the tests. I do pretty well with mammogram but feel no urgency though there has been some breast cancer in the family. I also understand Medicare only allows one every two years. The colonoscopy will be put off, and put off, and put off…I’ve had one & the prep was so much fun [NOT!] that I will avoid until I can’t. I’ve considered asking about the new ‘sample’ test, Cologuard since there are no risk factors in my family at that end 😉 . And I absolutely will not take statins either, but my husband does, and it wouldn’t surprise if they’ve caused some of the issues he’s been currently having.
Judy Laquidara says
I’m pretty sure Medicare pays for a mammogram every 12 months.
Carol H says
It has for me… and
(for osteoporosis) and Pap smears every two years
Katie says
I do the colonguard every year, super easy. Dr. orders it, they send it in the mail, get your sample and send it back . No big deal, it all comes in the same envelope. No yucky anything.
Lyndsey says
I agree ladies get your mammogram regularly. I picked up my breast lump myself just before my mammogram was due. That was in 2017 and chemo, surgery and radiotherapy left me cancer free. I have yearly mammograms on the NHS since I live in the UK. We pay for the NHS via our taxes and tests and treatment are free at the point of delivery so I only need medical insurance when travelling abroad. The NHS started before I was born and if any government tries to get rid of it I will be fighting tooth and nail to keep it
Verna A. says
I get a mammogram every year, but because of my dense tissue, I get called back frequently. Our insurance covers the initial mammogram (I get the 3D now), but the follow-up procedures count toward our deductible. A small price to pay for peace of mind (so far so good). I’m glad you had a good report!
dezertsuz says
I’m in the no group, but I wouldn’t ever recommend statins to anyone. If someone needs a cholesterol med, I say go with Zetia. Of course, trying to control diet and other options come first!
Nelle Coursey says
I believe a mammogram is one of the most important things a woman can do for herself. They are relatively pain free and it you don’t want that kind you can go for the ultrasonic if you have insurance that will pay for it. Thank goodness I never have to have another colonoscopy! They told me the last time that since I was almost 70 and had never had any problems before, I would not ever have to have another one. That is unless something else comes up in the meantime. I am so thankful I have the insurance I have and do not have to worry about co-pays. There is no way we could have gone through all of Pat’s heart problems without it! The zero co-pay is wonderful and I guess it was worth putting up with all the crap for 18 years to be able to get this! The ones there now are not so lucky. They will have to pay for their insurance when they retire.
Priscilla says
Twelve years ago next month I went in for my yearly mammogram and received the callback then flunked the biopsy. No family history of breast cancer. My radiation oncologist said that if I had skipped the mammogram that year I would have been “in trouble” since it was the most aggressive grade but the earliest possible stage. Better to have a few uncomfortable moments and find anything that needs to be found!