It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

[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!

[katsarecool]

JustJo, thank you for starting this thread! Keeping my fingers crossed and patiently waiting till we hear your good results!!

[lipstixgal]

Originally Posted by JustJo

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!

Good luck my friend my thoughts and prayers are with you but following up is good thing!! I'm past due for my mammo too just waiting for the breast center to call but I think I will call them on Wed!!

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by JustJo

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!

Here, and thanks for all you do, and the coffee ...

Thank you, and WAY to go on that journey to Mammogramville. The road is scary, and when you are all done, yes.Do something nice for yourself.

I dropped my Ex and her partner at LAX this AM. They treated themselves to a trip to for 8 days..(Not just because they both had their Mammo's : It was both their birthdays this month too)

So, I'll be doing the petsitting stops across town to walk GiGi, play with JesseWildCat and have Mo MO run and hide, till they get home. I asked them to bring me one of those hula dancer girls instead of the usual T-shirt or ballcap.

SO < I treated myself...I went to Ace Hardware on my way home and did just that this morning before the 10AM game .

I bought things that the house needed. Ahem. A bristle brush to clean out the dryer. A little brush that looks like a potato for veggies * I guess. I did get the power surge cord for my new 24" LCD monitor which is what I went into Ace to get.. Oh, and a new lawn rake. (It was on sale ) And a tropical palm tree carpet for the hall, and a Jellybean palm tree rug for in front of the kitchen sink where I spish and spash. I hate shopping, so , this was good.

I am looking forward to next year's Mammo. I think I'll go to Maui.Oh wait..I'll be in Little Rock, and hope to see each of you and yours there too.

[LipstickLola]

Did my yearly last month, already gotten the letter that all is well, whewww for another year!

[Isadora]

Almost a year ago I found a lump while doing a self examine in the shower. It was a definite lump. No matter how many times I felt for it, it was still there. I can't even list the emotions I went through while awaiting a mammogram.

I get them about every year. I was emotionally frightened and had just seen a good friend go through a radical mastectomy. It was a scary scary time. I got an ultra sound and it was found to be a cycst. But the fear and realizing how, as a femme, how important my breasts are to me. I love them.

I get a mammogram and a pap smear every year. Every. Year.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Isadora

Almost a year ago I found a lump while doing a self examine in the shower. It was a definite lump. No matter how many times I felt for it, it was still there. I can't even list the emotions I went through while awaiting a mammogram.

I get them about every year. I was emotionally frightened and had just seen a good friend go through a radical mastectomy. It was a scary scary time. I got an ultra sound and it was found to be a cycst. But the fear and realizing how, as a femme, how important my breasts are to me. I love them.

I get a mammogram and a pap smear every year. Every. Year.

Yes....They are lovable. or so I see**

It is scary when we fear, and realize we may not be immmortal after all, and the reason so many femme's and O/0ther's are afraid to go.

Butches , FTM's and MTF's are pretty much in denial and or such fear and that could be a whole other thread..

Ten Things Lesbians Should discuss with Their Healthcare Provider (Download .pdf Version)

Following are the health issues GLMA’s healthcare providers have identified as most commonly of concern for lesbians. While not all of these items apply to everyone, it’s wise to be aware of these issues.

1. Breast Cancer
Lesbians have the richest concentration of risk factors for breast cancer than any subset of women in the world. Combine this with the fact that many lesbians over 40 do not get routine mammograms, do breast self-exams, or have a clinical breast exam, and this cancer may elude early diagnosis, when it is most curable.

2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.....
******************************
Ten Things Transgender Persons Should discuss with Their Healthcare Care Provider (Download .pdf Version)

Following are the health issues GLMA’s healthcare providers have identified as most commonly of concern for transgender persons. While not all of these items apply to everyone, it’s wise to be aware of these issues.

1. Access to Health Care
Transgender persons are often reluctant to seek medical care through a traditional provider-patient relationship. Some are even turned away by providers. A doctor who refuses to treat a trans person may be acting out of fear and transphobia, or may have a religious bias against GLBT patients. It’s also possible that the doctor simply doesn’t have the knowledge or experience he needs. Furthermore, health care related to transgender issues is usually not covered by insurance, so it is more expensive. Whatever the reasons, transgender people have sometimes become very ill because they were afraid to visit their providers.

2. Health History
Trans persons may hide important details of their health history from their doctors. Perhaps they fear being denied care if their history is known. Even many years after surgery, they may omit the history of their transition when seeing a new provider. Patients should see their provider as an equal partner in their health care, not as a gatekeeper or an obstacle to be overcome.

3. Hormones
Cross-gender hormone therapy gives desirable feminizing (or masculinizing) effects, but carries its own unique risks. Estrogen has the potential to increase the risk of blood clotting, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and water retention. Anti-androgens such as spironolactone can produce dehydration, low blood pressure, and electrolyte disturbances. Testosterone, especially when given orally or in high doses, carries the risk of liver damage. Hormone use should be appropriately monitored by the patient and provider. Some trans people tend to obtain hormones and other treatment through indirect means, bypassing the health care system. Taking hormones without supervision can result in doses too high or too low, with undesired results.
4.5.6.7.8.9.10.

Glad to see so many taking care of themselves and each other. Send a loved one.
So, the title of my book is....Cancer Doesn't Knock: Stories from Who's There

[katsarecool]

Originally Posted by Isadora

Almost a year ago I found a lump while doing a self examine in the shower. It was a definite lump. No matter how many times I felt for it, it was still there. I can't even list the emotions I went through while awaiting a mammogram.

I get them about every year. I was emotionally frightened and had just seen a good friend go through a radical mastectomy. It was a scary scary time. I got an ultra sound and it waus found to be a cycst. But the fear and realizing how, as a femme, how important my breasts are to me. I love them.

I get a mammogram and a pap smear every year. Every. Year.

Isadora! I know how you feel. I found a lump in my left breast when I was 29; before we knew my mother had breast cancer that she did not survive. It was a cyst as welll. But that two weeks period from finding the lump till the onocologist called it benign was a very scarey time! I had three small children then and worried about what would happen if I got sick. Glad your lump was ok and that you are taking good care of yourself!

This thread could indeed save lives!!!

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by LipstickLola

Did my yearly last month, already gotten the letter that all is well, whewww for another year!

Great news. Way to go. Specially 4 U.