It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

[lipstixgal]

Well I'm just waiting on the breast center in Hackensack to give me a call on the date and the time!! Hopefully before the month is over I plan on moving out of here NJ by NOvember 2010 or else I will get it once I'm in florida!!

[sylvie]

i hear a lot of different ages from people, my doctor doesn't seem too worried about my starting to get them regularly.. what worries me with her though is she isn't a doctor that seems completely interested in what she does.. you make an appt and she's rushing you out for the next person to get in.. (no new doctor openings for awhile now lol)

so if i told her i wanted to go for one, she'd help arrange that but, she'll never suggest , sadly..so just curious..what age did you all starting getting them regularly, and how regularly do you get it done.. it's not something that's in my family, however, would still be good to do i'm sure.. i always do checks on myself, of course.. i have for a few years now..felt something suspicious twice now, but hasn't been anything to worry about (my doctor says, lol)

i'm 37 years old , will be 38 in feb.. so just curious when do you start getting it checked regularly and how regularly.. ?♥

[Scorp]

Sylvie,

Get rid of that doctor.

What type of insurance do you have?

There is usually a phone number on the back of your insurance card and you can speak to a representative and ask them to suggest a doctor within your network and your location.

Secondly, there was a lot of controversy about the age when to get a mammogram. I had my first one at 17 because there was a lump under my arm. Thankfully it was benign. People thought that was insane and too young to have one done. However, breast cancer runs in my family and I'm susceptible to lumps, fibroids, etc. So, I would go regularly. For the last 2 years, I would have to have mammograms and ultrasounds every 6 months (if you can believe that) because of what appeared to be abnormal findings. Just this past year, I was told having them done annually is now sufficient enough.

You need to be your own advocate and sometimes doctors with these particular so-called bedside manners are somewhat of a red flag. You need to be comfortable with your doctors.

Let me know how you make out if you're able to find another doctor an again, the type of health insurance you have.

I usually do my own research when I get a doctor referral and check their credentials. I check to see if they've had malpractice suits, etc.

Good Luck and let me know if I can help.

Originally Posted by sylvie

i hear a lot of different ages from people, my doctor doesn't seem too worried about my starting to get them regularly.. what worries me with her though is she isn't a doctor that seems completely interested in what she does.. you make an appt and she's rushing you out for the next person to get in.. (no new doctor openings for awhile now lol)

so if i told her i wanted to go for one, she'd help arrange that but, she'll never suggest , sadly..so just curious..what age did you all starting getting them regularly, and how regularly do you get it done.. it's not something that's in my family, however, would still be good to do i'm sure.. i always do checks on myself, of course.. i have for a few years now..felt something suspicious twice now, but hasn't been anything to worry about (my doctor says, lol)

i'm 37 years old , will be 38 in feb.. so just curious when do you start getting it checked regularly and how regularly.. ?♥

[sylvie]

i'm in canada, so we have medicare here..
so when another doctor opens up for new patients i'll surely be jumping on board, i call regularly to find out if any doctors have new openings.. my father has been as well..

thanks so much for answering.. lately i've been feeling like i 'should' be getting them regularly, not just "if" i feel i need something checked.. my doctor just seems more interested in getting as many people in her office as possible, no bedside manner at all and i'm not comfortable with her whatsoever.. i always feel like i'm inconveniencing her, actually..

i have an appointment coming up, so i'll mention to her about that too, and get something set up.. much thanks Scorp!

[Julie]

I have been going since I was 30 (every six months) and I am now 48.

I had a partial mastectomy and go -- 1x a year for a Mammo and MRI and 2x a year for an Ulstrasound.

There is pain when the machine presses down on your breast -That pain is nothing compared to the treatment or the recovery of a mastectomy or the pain you will experience from dying from breast cancer --

I do not mean to be so harsh - but those are the facts.

Be lucky you have health care and can go. There are women in this country and others, that will never have the opportunity to feel the pain or save their breast or their lives.

Julie

[sylvie]

Originally Posted by InfiniteFemme

Be lucky you have health care and can go. There are women in this country and others, that will never have the opportunity to feel the pain or save their breast or their lives.

Julie

:-(

that makes me really sad.. thank you Julie for your information, i will definitely get on it.. and although harsh, it's honest and i'm very appreciative for your words. i've been feeling i should be doing more, lately..so you've both helped me tremendously.. thank you!

[Julie]

Originally Posted by sylvie

:-(

that makes me really sad.. thank you Julie for your information, i will definitely get on it.. and although harsh, it's honest and i'm very appreciative for your words. i've been feeling i should be doing more, lately..so you've both helped me tremendously.. thank you!

Sylvie...

I hope it also makes you angry and you are so very welcome.

Get on it TODAY! Make your appointment. ALSO... I demand (seriously) to speak to the radiologist at every appointment I go to. I do not want to hear from a technician that I will hear from them or from my doctor in a couple days. It's not happening - I am not going home.

I will not LEAVE that office until after (not with MRI) I hear my scans are clean or dirty.

Julie who expects to hear you have an appointment.

[sylvie]

Originally Posted by InfiniteFemme

Sylvie...

I hope it also makes you angry and you are so very welcome.

Get on it TODAY! Make your appointment. ALSO... I demand (seriously) to speak to the radiologist at every appointment I go to. I do not want to hear from a technician that I will hear from them or from my doctor in a couple days. It's not happening - I am not going home.

I will not LEAVE that office until after (not with MRI) I hear my scans are clean or dirty.

Julie who expects to hear you have an appointment.

Julie, thanks so much..
yes, i do have an appointment next week with my doctor, so i'll be going for one very soon.. as soon as i have 'that' appointment i will let you know, it shouldn't be long after.. when 'i' decide i need something looked into, she's good about getting me there, at least that.. thank you for your tips, as well.. ♥ they're very much appreciated!

i will be very good about going for the mammograms now.. ♥ i have an upcoming ultrasound for a uterine fibroid tumor, and i guess it's got me thinking deeply about taking care of me in all ways necessary.. hence the questions here..

Delish, thank you so much for your response as well. i do have a family history of cancer as well, so i knew this was or would be necessary .. no breast cancer in my family, however.. but still good to be checked.. and so sorry about your ex :-( my gosh.. and 50 years old? that's actually really scary, angers me and saddens me all the same time..we definitely do have to do what we can to take care of ourselves..

Sweet, great information, i hope it helps someone here too, ty for posting it! ♥

JustJo, sending you positive thoughts your way! (((huggz)))

[Delish]

Sylvie~
My ex is 36 and she has been going for 5 yrs now getting mammograms because of the family history of breast cancer. She was actually planning on transitioning and we had the date of her mastectomy set for Nov 5 this yr when she found out she had inflammatory breast cancer. The next week, they day of her 1st chemo treatment, they did a body scan and found that she had 5 hot spots. 3 in her spine so it's not looking good for her.

I called yesterday to get my annual mammogram and my insurance doesn't pay for a general exam until I turn 50..WTF? The people that I know that has had breast cancer would have never lived to see 50 if they wouldn't have found it sooner.

We, as women have to do what we have to do to take care of ourselves!

Originally Posted by sylvie

i hear a lot of different ages from people, my doctor doesn't seem too worried about my starting to get them regularly.. what worries me with her though is she isn't a doctor that seems completely interested in what she does.. you make an appt and she's rushing you out for the next person to get in.. (no new doctor openings for awhile now lol)

so if i told her i wanted to go for one, she'd help arrange that but, she'll never suggest , sadly..so just curious..what age did you all starting getting them regularly, and how regularly do you get it done.. it's not something that's in my family, however, would still be good to do i'm sure.. i always do checks on myself, of course.. i have for a few years now..felt something suspicious twice now, but hasn't been anything to worry about (my doctor says, lol)

i'm 37 years old , will be 38 in feb.. so just curious when do you start getting it checked regularly and how regularly.. ?♥

[Andrea]

Please consider registering with Avon's Army of Women to work towards a cure for breast cancer.

[JustJo]

I'm glad to see this thread kept alive....

I had a baseline in my early 40s...and then slacked off for 5 years. I'm 48, just had my second mammo....and just got the call and letter to see my doctor and have a conversation about my right breast, and then another mammo.

Honestly, I'm scared shitless. And, yes, I'm following up.

[katsarecool]

JustJO, thinking about you and sending positive thoughts your way.
The latest guidelines I heard (and it often changes) is mammo at 40 if there is a family history and 50 if there is not.

I had my baseline at 37 because I insisted and there is a family history. Mother died at the age of 55 from breast cancer. I have three sisters and so far we are all clear.

[Julie]

Originally Posted by JustJo

I'm glad to see this thread kept alive....

I had a baseline in my early 40s...and then slacked off for 5 years. I'm 48, just had my second mammo....and just got the call and letter to see my doctor and have a conversation about my right breast, and then another mammo.

Honestly, I'm scared shitless. And, yes, I'm following up.

Jo!

Sending you positive thoughts!!! Do not wait for the appointment. Call and ask your doctor to telephone you NOW! You should not have to wait for an appointment - the waiting is UNFAIR and only creates anxiety and panic.

Just remember to breathe and know you are NOT ALONE!

I am sure it is fine -- Often at our age we (especially if we are large breasted) have Fibroid Adenoma's which are benign. Not uncommon. I have had a dozen biopsies and this is what they have been 90% of the time for me.

Every tumor I have had - they told me the day they found it and I had it biopsied the next day and within a week knew the results.

Julie

[katsarecool]

What Julie says exactly!!!!

[Zimmeh]

(((Jo Jo))),

Hope your second mammogram was good and the dr's didn't find anything.

Hugs my friend,

Zimmy

Originally Posted by JustJo

I'm glad to see this thread kept alive....

I had a baseline in my early 40s...and then slacked off for 5 years. I'm 48, just had my second mammo....and just got the call and letter to see my doctor and have a conversation about my right breast, and then another mammo.

Honestly, I'm scared shitless. And, yes, I'm following up.

[Zimmeh]

I had my first mammogram at 35 and did it because my mom kept telling md to go. I don't like dr's, but since my mom had a partial hysterectomy at 31 and my aunt having a full hysterectomy at 34. The dr's gave me a clean bill of health and told to come back when I am 40.

I do everything I can to support breast cancer research.

Zimmy

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by ZimmygLrL

(((Jo Jo))),

Hope your second mammogram was good and the dr's didn't find anything.

Hugs my friend,

Zimmy

Thanks Zimmy ...it's scheduled, and I'll go. It's scary, but too important to ignore. Scoote's going for hers too.

I'm so proud of everyone who has taken the plunge and is going to get their mammo or gotten it done...and even more so of those who are promoting it to others and encouraging them to go.

Tommi....you're a gem...and all I can do is send you a big for your encouragement and support.

I've already decided that I'm treating myself after the follow-up mammo, regardless of the outcome. I'm diabetic, so a chocolate fest (as much as I'd love it) is bad....I'm thinking a nice chaise lounge for poolside instead!

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Please consider registering with Avon's Army of Women to work towards a cure for breast cancer.

Please watch this video.
I joined the Army today. Thanks for being a recruiter Andrea

There are super projects to sign up for as part of cancer research.

[Galahad]

Anything touching the sacks is painful lately. I canceled last spring mamo because I knew I couldn't handle the pressure. Dr told me to take vitamin E but it hasn't helped much. Anything I can take to get through it? Aspirins do nothing.

[katsarecool]

Originally Posted by Galahad

Anything touching the sacks is painful lately. I canceled last spring mamo because I knew I couldn't handle the pressure. Dr told me to take vitamin E but it hasn't helped much. Anything I can take to get through it? Aspirins do nothing.

My breasts are tender too. (no this is not a comeon lol). My doctor reccommended not drinking or eating anything with caffeine one week prior to the mammo and it seems to work!