Get Your Mammograms. Please.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

If you’re a guy, encourage your wife/mother/sister/girl friends to get them done.

My best friend of 14 years has breast cancer.

2 ½ years ago she had a mammogram that showed something small. The doc said it looked like a calcium deposit, and not to worry (this was my friend’s understanding, but she is foreign and many times confuses medical advice). She told me that he said ‘calcium’, and she was nursing her baby at the time, so she thought it had something to do with her milk “because there was lots of calcium in there!” she said. –Ok we both smiled a bit painfully at that little misunderstanding, but…

She didn’t have insurance at the time, and since he had said not to worry, she didn’t. She didn’t follow up.

She was in her new clinic July 23rd for stomach issues and saw a sign that read “Mammograms done here”, and since she now had insurance and it was covered, she said she did it ‘just for fun’.

2 ½ years later, her breast is engulfed in cancer. She's 36.

She met with a surgeon on Monday, the chemotherapists yesterday, and is having an MRI today to see if it has metastasized elsewhere.

Please pray for my friend that it remains local.

I don’t typically like posting things like this…I guess it embarrasses me to admit that I'm not in control or scared. I did because maybe it will remind somebody that they need to schedule an appointment. Please don’t put it off.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[mamajumps 0]

I have never had one, and always heard a good age to start is 40. I am 33 and during my annual my doctor has never suggested that I get one. Should I seek a second opinion or just go do it... I have insurance so it is no biggie....

[NWFlyer 2]

Jaye, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, and that she is dealing with this so young.

Here's some info from the National Cancer Institute that may help inform women (and the men who love them) on their decisions and discussions with their doctors. Hopefully Dr. Bordson will chime in on this soon, too. My mom had her first mammogram (waaaay later than the recommended age, but at least she finally had it, as her birthday present to me last year).

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/screening-mammograms

[micduran 0]

I am very sorry to hear about your friend. I had a scare a few years and am very thankful it was only a scare.
I get a mammogram every year. Not fun, but necessary.
I continue to run Race for the Cure and am doing the 3-day walk this year to raise $$ for the cause.
Sadly enough, many women (and fewer men) don't take breast cancer seriously or they maintain the "it won't happen to me" mentality.
If you have a breast, you are risk.

Be patient with the faults of others; they have to be patient with yours.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

You'd have to ask your doc I couldn't answer that for you.

I've had to get mine done for concerns and family history. I'm not sure why my friend originally had hers done in December of 2006; she has no family history. I think the doc found a lump, but I am just guessing as I haven't asked her.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

I remember you talking about your mom getting that done.
Thank you for the link. I'll forward it on and hopefully it will help a little...

My friend has never had any family members go through cancer. Never had a friend with cancer. She is so naive to it that it really scares me. I'm worried for her mental health when treatment starts. For the first week she didn't even understand that they were going to have to operate. I don't think she is aware even now that it will likely be a full masectomy. All she knows is that they are going to 'cut her boob', and she is afraid of that.

I have seen cancer in family and friends since I was 10 years old. I'm still dealing with it in family and obviously friends. I just feel like it sneaked up and attacked my friend that had no way to emotionally prepare; no clue what to expect, and no way to process all of this. I could have dealt with it (I like to believe). Why it had to prey upon someone so vulnerable is just beyond me...

I can't stand watching other people hurt.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[kbordson 8]

Jaye,

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. 36 is WAY TOO YOUNG for all of this. (not that any age is a good age fro cancer)

For information and clarification:

Detecting and Treating Breast Problems - published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist states

Quote

Screening for Breast Problems

Screening tests are used to find a health problem early. If they are done routinely, they may detect a problem before symptoms are felt. Three of the common tests for breast problems include:

Mammography
Doctor's exam of the breasts
Breast self-exam

For the best results, all 3 tests should be done. If any 1 of these tests shows a problem it should be checked out.

Mammography

Mammography is used to examine the breast tissue by X-ray. It can find tiny lumps before they can be felt. The results of your first exam are compared with later ones to detect changes. The size of your breasts or the use of breast implants does not change the need for the test.

The test is more useful in women aged 40 years and older. Older women's breasts are less dense, so it is easier to detect lumps. Also, breast cancer is more common in older women.

Women aged 40–49 years should have mammography done every 1–2 years. Women aged 50 years and older should have it done every year. If you have an increased risk of breast cancer (see box), your doctor may suggest that you have this test done more often or before age 40 years.

Some women feel discomfort during the test. If you still menstruate, you may find that having your test right after your period is less uncomfortable.

Sometimes your doctor may suggest a repeat test. This does not always mean that there is a problem—your doctor may just want to get a second look.

Risk Factors of Breast Cancer
Risk factors are not found in all women who have breast cancer. Many women have none of them.

Increase Risk

Certain genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) passed on from your parents
Breast cancer in the family, especially mother, daughter, or sister
Personal history of cancer of the breast, endometrium, ovary, or colon
Older age
No pregnancies or pregnancy later in life (aged 30 years or older)
Early menstruation (younger than age 12 years)
Late menopause (aged 55 years or older)
Never breastfed a child
Postmenopausal obesity
Alcohol intake
Recent hormone therapy
Recent use of birth control pills


Decrease Risk

Pregnancy early in life (before age 20 years)
Ovaries removed before age 40 years
Early menopause (before age 50 years)

In those under 40-50, most breast lumps are benign (NOT cancer) so the routine screening with mammograms is not recommended. HOWEVER - IF you have risks (as noted above. . . but you say your friend didn't) or abnormal findings (lumps, abnormal reports) PLEASE encourage your doctor to be assertive in checking these out - even if you have to "convince" insurance that it's a covered benefit or pay out of pocket. It's "unlikely" to be breast cancer... but as you know, not impossible.

It's really hard to second guess what could have been the outcome if your friend had gotten early diagnosis and management. It sounds like quite an aggressive tumor....

I wish her well.

[riddler 0]

My bandwagon - prostate screening for men. Screenings for both are important. More men contract prostate cancer than women contracting breast cancer, annually. In 2005, the US spent $699 million for breast-cancer research and only $390 million on prostate-cancer research.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[kbordson 8]

You are correct. There is more of a society bias toward breast cancer.

The incidences are closely matched source, however the mortality rate for breast cancer is higher.

but there should be more of a public awareness toward prostate cancer. Guys should have thiers checked more.... (but that's a WHOLE different thread )

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Quote

My bandwagon - prostate screening for men. Screenings for both are important. More men contract prostate cancer than women contracting breast cancer, annually. In 2005, the US spent $699 million for breast-cancer research and only $390 million on prostate-cancer research.

-What age is that one recommended for?

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[boinky 0]

Do you know of any sources for those who don't have insurance to be tested affordably?

I'm closing in on 50 and never had one done.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[Lindsey 0]

I had to pay out of pocket for a mammogram when I was 31 after my OB/Gyn found a lump. Turned out to be nothing, and my insurance wouldn't pay. BUT I was surprised that a mammogram really didn't cost all that much. Even without insurance, it's worth getting done. Potentially high yield with very low cost.

:)
linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[kbordson 8]

Quote

Do you know of any sources for those who don't have insurance to be tested affordably?

I'm closing in on 50 and never had one done.

Go to the American Cancer Society website.

Enter your zip code in the field and that will pull up the ACS Office nearest to you.

Call them and ask them for information on free mammograms

[riddler 0]

Quote

What age is that one recommended for?

The medical community recommends starting at 50 years for men. However, I remember when breast exams were recommended at 50, then 45, now 40? Prostate cancer awareness will likely bring down that age as well - many of the statistics are based on men starting at 45, so that's probably a better age to get a PSA.

PSA is a blood test, which is only somewhat accurate, but a high antigen level does not mean one has cancer - only that further tests are recommended.

Quote

If 100 men over age 50 take the PSA test,

* 85 will have a normal PSA (though a small number of these men will have a cancer that was missed by the PSA test).
* 15 will have a higher than normal PSA and require further tests.

After further testing, results will show

* 12 do not have prostate cancer.
* 3 have prostate cancer.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Thanks for passing that on. My father in law is going in again today for a follow up exam for his prostate cancer, and I'm trying to convince Joe to start thinking about checking earlier since his dad has prostate cancer.

He's only 35, but with a family history (dad and his dad's twin brother both have prostate cancer) I'd like him to ask a doc when he should start getting checked.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.