A number of years in the past, I did one thing I would been avoiding. I received a mammogram. I had a dozen causes for not eager to get one. As I mentioned then:
«Getting a mammogram isn’t enjoyable. That’s, it’s not one thing you schedule since you stay up for having your numerous physique elements draped awkwardly round a machine after which mashed like a potato. And who doesn’t love getting bare with complete strangers? (Reply: Me.)»
For Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month, I took a glance again at 4 girls whose mammogram tales are so totally different, however encourage me to maintain up with my screenings. You do not have to be at excessive threat for a mammogram to save lots of your life.
«You simply should do it» – Robane on the Bus
Living proof: Robane Beroza. Like me, she didn’t have a household historical past of breast most cancers. She wasn’t excessive threat for the illness. Nonetheless, she received her mammogram yearly. It was simply a part of her routine.
And Robane had the possibility to get hers achieved on the cell mammography unit, a bus that travels round to make getting a mammogram simpler for individuals all through the area. “I used to be the primary particular person to enroll and the primary particular person on the bus. It was very fast and simple,” she mentioned.
They did discover breast most cancers. However as a result of they discovered the most cancers early, Robane’s possibilities, and the therapy, had been higher and sooner than they might have been. “I inform everybody to get a mammogram,” says Robane. “My sister saved placing hers off as a result of she was scared. However you simply should do it. You’re going to be OK.” Learn Robane Beroza’s mammogram story.
«I’d reasonably know, so I can do every part I must do to stop most cancers.» – Megan’s Excessive Threat
In contrast to myself and Robane, Megan Davis found she WAS at excessive threat for breast most cancers earlier than getting a mammogram. Now she rotates between a typical mammogram and getting a breast MRI each 6 months.
This feels like loads. However Megan says, «I really feel a lot better figuring out what my threat is and doing one thing about it. If I do find yourself getting breast most cancers, I ought to discover out inside months of it growing.» Megan additionally is aware of that early discovery of breast most cancers means she would possibly solely want surgical procedure for therapy, not chemo or radiation. Nonetheless, monitoring her threat so usually could be scary, however that feeling is helped by her religion in her high-risk care workforce:
«I couldn’t assist feeling some alarm once I received referred to as again for extra pictures after my mammogram. The radiologist who learn my scans was reassuring and type. She promised me her workforce would all the time err on the aspect of warning. They needed to be completely certain they discovered any most cancers, so they may name me again for extra pictures or a biopsy if there’s ever a query.»
Study how Megan discovered about her genetic threat.
«Don’t delay going to the physician or assume that the ache will go away.” – Sheila’s Many Causes
Like Megan, Sheila Boling had a excessive genetic threat for breast most cancers. Her twin sister truly died from breast most cancers at age 35. However, as a Black lady, Sheila faces some onerous information: Black girls usually tend to get breast cancers which can be onerous to deal with. They’re additionally extra prone to die from breast most cancers.
On high of these odds, breast most cancers signs in Black girls aren’t all the time the identical as they’re for others. When Sheila had a really small ache in her breast, she did not assume it was breast most cancers. She solely discovered that it was most cancers due to a mammogram.
Which is why Sheila advocates for Black girls to hearken to their our bodies and get screened. “It’s necessary that once we really feel dangerous that we get ourselves checked,» she says. Watch Sheila’s entire story.
«I did some studying and analysis and it appeared like I wanted to produce other assessments.» – Margarita’s Second Opinion
Margarita Figueroa’s very first mammogram got here again with the stunning information of a constructive analysis. However it additionally got here again with «combined alerts» about what to do subsequent. She went to UVA Well being for a second opinion. And that courageous transfer modified every part about her therapy and her care.
Get a Mammogram
Discover out the fundamentals and select a location.
One in every of Margarita’s medical doctors praised her willingness to «ask what is going on on and why are you recommending this therapy? And she or he was additionally keen to share a few of her struggles… [which] I feel improves the probabilities that we’re going to have the ability to provide help to by way of a most cancers journey.»
Margarita did not simply go together with 1 mammogram. She went and received extra screenings to verify the outcomes had been proper and that she received the care she wanted. Watch Margarita’s entire story.
My Mammogram Story
I used to be avoiding getting a mammogram as a result of I used to be frightened of what I’d discover. The factor is, you by no means know. You could be at excessive threat. You possibly can face horrible odds. Or you possibly can haven’t any motive on the earth to fret.
The purpose of a mammogram, like every well being screening, is to search out out what you do not know. Whereas it could really feel extra snug to remain ignorant, it is not bliss when you’re lacking one thing that might kill you. And the factor is, we’re fortunate to have entry to specialists who can, if now we have a most cancers analysis, assist us by way of the therapy journey.
Need assistance paying for a screening?
Discover ways to get a free mammogram.
My mammogram story is not dramatic. However I am blissful to look again at what I discovered: That, on the finish of the day, I am extraordinarily grateful to have the ability to get one. I am fortunate to have this entry.
Going through the information head-on is the most suitable choice for surviving most cancers. However you do not have to do it alone.
What’s Your Mammogram Story?
We would all have totally different mammogram tales. However all of us have a motive to get one. What’s your story? Share within the feedback under!
