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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 7:31pm | IP Logged
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I have a question: I have been pregnant and or nursing for the past several years, and although I have one more year before I turn 40, I'm starting to get nervous that I've never had a mammogram. I do monthly checks and go once a year for my ob checkup- but nursing breasts just seem all lumpy-bumpy to me, so how would you know if you had a problem?
I feel like a tumor or cyst would feel different than normal lactational changes, right?. I just had a check-up in October and was normal then, so I'm not sure why I am so anxious about it. My daughter turned 2 in August but is a MAJOR nursing addict. Weaning her is going to be very hard, and I don't really care if she continues nursing for awhile, other than that puts off a mammogram.
For those of you who have been nursing/pregnant for awhile, what have you done? Do you worry? Seems like every book or magazine I pick up talks about breast cancer. I am getting paranoid! 
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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Funny you should ask this. I just turned 45, and I realized that I still have never had a mammogram. And I was just thinking that maybe I ought to schedule one.
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 Paula
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guitarnan
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You should have this done. They can see micro-calcifications that you couldn't ever feel...some of these are just fine (like mine) and some are indicators of a pre-cancerous condition. They're so tiny you wouldn't be able to detect them at home.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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St. Ann
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I had my first mam. this last year and I was very relieved afterward. I am 43 with a large breast size, which is the reason my OB-gyn wanted me to have one done.
I am sorry for being so ignorant, but does a mam. 'pollute' the milk supply with a nursing woman? or does it make for an inaccurate reading?
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Stephanie
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hylabrook1
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I had my first mammo at 40, during a five-second break between nursing and being pregnant. Actually, my OB says that after many years of extended nursing my risk of having breast cancer is effectively zero. Still, "never say never", and the benefits of early detection are not to be sneezed at. After that first mammo, I didn't have another for probably 5 more years because I had another baby and she was a total nursing addict.
Peace,
Nancy
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Joelle
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I have been nursing or pregnant for almost 6 years, am 38 and have often asked my OB the same question. They always have said to wait until I am neither nursing nor pregnant. Like you I am concerned at times. I have a new OB (pro-life, no contraception-NFP only one, praise God) & I'll ask him what he thinks as he would more likely understand that I truly have no idea when I'll not be nursing or pregnant. If anything good turns up, I'll let you all know!
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God Bless, Joelle
Mom to 7: Boy (96), Girls (00, 02, 04), Boy (05), Girl (07), Boy (09)
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ALmom
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I really don't worry about postponing due to breastfeeding - even a little bit of breastfeeding is liable to give a false positive. With nursing, risks are way down anyways, no bc/abortions reduces your risk again (these very things are what I believe drives the concern as the occurence of breast cancer is growing - but in US no one wants to realistically admit the risks associated with our lifestyle/moral decisions are probably the biggest culprit). Of course that doesn't mean there is no chance, but since you are checking, if you find something suspcious (a lump or something), you can have an ultrasound of that spot (a nursing relative of mine did that with something that came up while nursing a young child, they told her it probably was a nursing related lump but since she knew the spot, they could check the spot with ultrasound and only proceed further if that was suspicious). The advantage to a mammogram over the ultrasound has to do with the mammogram getting a wider accurate picture with the ultrasound being more accurate in one spot but won't catch anything on other places. Each person must do their own risk/benefit assessment, but do recognize that some of the hype is related to things that probably aren't relevant to you. I'm not saying, that a moral, longterm breastfeeding mom won't ever get cancer - just statistically you are in a much lower risk category than the general public, especially if you are not overweight and no family history of it. Personally, I'd keep on nursing and then get the baseline whenever I'd not been nursing for a while. In the meantime you are checking and if something bothers you, you could consider an ultrasound check of the spot.
Janet
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 7:42pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all for posting. I was able to go today for a screening ultrasound and breast exam in lieu of a mammogram. And my doctor told me I could come in every 6 months for a "professional" check to help ease my anxiety.
I am so relieved and feel much better. My dd would be very hard to wean right now- nursing is a great comfort source for her. So she gets to hang on a while longer...
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: mammograms
