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donnalynn
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| Posted: Dec 19 2007 at 9:25am | IP Logged
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I'm not quite 40 - I'll be 39 this Dec. But since I turned 35 my ob/gyn has been suggesting a baseline mammogram.
I have a big a fear about it - I gave birth to three children with no medication (and one of those was induced with pit) but I just stand the thought of a mammogram.
And this may sound crazy - I'm not sure if I read this somewhere or if it sprung up in my mind but I am also worried about potential harm. I just don't like tests that don't make sense to me - squishing one's breasts to the point of pain does not make sense to me. What if there is some tiny little something that would have been fine except that the pressure from the mammogram aggravated something?
Maybe I am over-exaggerating the pain of the test in my mind?
Any thoughts, experiences would be appreciated. Please pm me if you prefer. Thanks.
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Dawn
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Donna, I'll be 39 next month and my dr. also had me do a baseline test when I was 35 (only I left it till I was 36  ). That first one showed a suspicous area (later confirmed to be just dense tissue) so I had to have two more mammograms spaced 6 months apart.  I haven't had another since ...
The pain of the test was not too bad, I thought, just uncomfortable for a few moments, and being on the smaller side  I was told to expect it to be painful ...
I've had three children also and this test in no way compared to the pain of natural birth. In fact, having just been through oral surgery on Monday, I would take a mammogram in a heartbeat if I could avoid further dentistry!  
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Angie Mc
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Here's a related thought shared with me by my midwife. In the near future, a blood test may be used to detect breast cancer.
Love,
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folklaur
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I get lipomas, which are fatty tissue tumors. Before we knew what they were, I had found one in my breast, and my Dr. immediately sent me for a mammo. I have large breasts (about a DDD cup), so they had to like really squish them. But, it wasn't as nearly as bad as I had been told it was. I would never use the word "pain" for it....uncomfortable, and a little weird, but not painful.
And since I now know it can be done w/o pain, when I do have to go back, if I am experiencing pain, I am likely to say something to the tech....
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Marjorie
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Donna,
I have had to have multiple mammograms since my early twenties (and now every 6 months) due to fibrocyctic lumps - all bengin. The test is really not painful. Sometimes you have to position yourself oddly for a second and there is a short 'squish' while they take the picture. It is reminiscent of dental x-rays, uncomfortable for a few seconds. You could take a tylenol before hand, but don't worry!
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PDyer
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I'm 42 and I've had several mammograms, several 'second looks' with greater magnification and a biopsy (that ended up finding nothing of great concern). I wouldn't call the plain mammograms painful; slightly uncomfortable, maybe, but I accept a bit more pressure than absolutely necessary because of my history. All the techs I've worked with have been sensitive to making sure the procedure isn't a terrible experience for me.
Hope this eases your mind. My doctor was after me started about age 35, but I got pregnant and was nursing for a year so I didn't have the baseline done until I was close to 38, I think.
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crusermom
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I have had 2 mammos since turning 40. I didn't think they were painful at all. If you had natural childbirth - these should be a cakewalk. Last mammo, I was still nursing and milk squirted all over the machine. Talk about embarrasing!! I hate tests too, but my maid of honor was diagnosed with breast ca at 41 - that made my mind up. She found out on a baseline mammo and got it early. You will make the right decision.
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Kristie 4
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Mine was more awkward and pinchy (The tech said that it is a consequence of being on the small side).
My tech both times was very comforting and natural with the procedure.
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8kids4me
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They hurt like the dickens. I am on the large side, and have had 3 of them. At 50, I'm "supposed" to get them every year, but haven't in two. I go back and forth over getting them, with the result being I get them every two or three years.
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mom2mpr
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I had my first about 3 weeks ago at 44. It was quick(how many emergency mammo's can they do?) and fairly painless. I had been dreading it for years.
I even brought my kids and they waited in a little room right outside the mammo room. They were alone maybe 8 minutes.
I am small and the first "squish" was a little uncomfortable but as others said, nothing compared to natural childbirth. Once I had an idea what it was like the second was nothing.
Anne
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donnalynn
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I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences. It has helped me to get a bigger picture.
Angie - I found a lot of good information from that link you sent aside from the article - but boy wouldn't a simple blood test be nice! I did find some good ideas like scheduling the mammo to avoid tenderness from your menstrual cycle - don't know that I would have thought that.
You ladies are all so wonderful! Thanks again!
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SueW
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This is an old thread, but I wanted to mention for those of you who are looking for another option.
I have never had a mammogram, although drs were always asking me about it even though I was still nursing at the time!
I put it off for awhile, read some articles on Dr. Mercola's website about the radiation involved, etc.
I found out about a local Dr. who does breast thermography, completely non-invasive and happen to be way more accurate than a mammogram in detecting cancer well *before* a mammogram could.
The only type of cancer it doesn't detect is "cold" breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ). A breast ultrasound would pick that up, however.
If you can find an MD who is on the holistic side, it might be covered by your insurance.
To me it was worth not being "smushed" and radiated.
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LLMom
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Sue,
I have looked into this and there is a place where I can have it done. However, I haven't yet because of my fear that I may have something show up because of having had mastitis so many times. I know my SIL had a lump appear on her mammogram because of an old mastitis infection (it left a ball of milk--that was the lump). I wonder if a "hot spot" would show up because of repeated mastitis.
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mary
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SueW wrote:
The only type of cancer it doesn't detect is "cold" breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ). A breast ultrasound would pick that up, however.
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my sister died of this type of cancer. she'd had lumps removed and been regular with mammograms until she had children. it was during the 4 years that she nursed that she developed breast cancer and it was stage 4 when diagnosed. i'm not sure that many doctors will allow US detection - certainly insurance companies don't like to cover it. i know what mercola says about radiation and i've read dr lee's take on all of this well. this topic is like vaccinations - the info you get from science is pro vaccine all the way, the info you get from alternative med is sometimes a little to crazy for me. i'm not sure what to believe. i guess this is one of those times when i have to put my trust in my doctor. he advises mammograms and so i've got one scheduled for as soon as this toddler is weaned. whatever method you decide to use, please be regular in your exams.
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gwendyt
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Just FYI - my SIL had breast cancer (she was on top of checking everything regularly due to strong family history) - mammograms and monthly checks herself. However, although she wasn't overly large chested, she did have very "lumpy" breasts. Ultrasound is the only way they picked up the cancer - mammos didn't work (the only way the doctor decided to do ultrasound was because she insisted she wasn't feeling well and thought something was wrong). She advised me to get an ultrasound right off the bat rather than mess with mammogram. (I don't have family history but do have "lumpy" tissue on one side, I think, due to repeated breast infections there) Doctor confirmed ultrasound is better for women in this situation. She also seconded the thermography - she's had that done regularly since she's been in remission.
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SueW
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Lisa,
From my understanding, only cancer would show hot spots, an infection in the past would not show heat.
That's what makes them somewhat more accurate than a mammogram.
The insurance thing is too bad. Mammograms became the 'standard of care' way back when, because the equipment was cheaper and easier to use.
Many drs. don't want to switch at this point and have to pay for more equipment or go through the extra training. I had to pay out of pocket for my thermography.
Well, I had a wonderful thermography dr. who spent a lot of time explaining everything. The thermography is analyzed by an MD. If anyone in the Fredericksburg VA area is interested, I can give you her name/website.
~Sue
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seven2hold
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Sue,
I am very interested in thermography. I have a family history of BC. I am nursing an 11 moth old and have not weaned him completely. He eats table food with 2 bottom teeth and two top ones about to errupt. He just can't figure out a bottle or a sippy cup. So I'm still providing almost all his liquid diet. I'd love to go get screened while I'm still trying to wean! I'm 45 min. from Fredricksburg.
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4Real Forums : St. Anne's Tearoom: Growing in Wisdom over 40
Topic: mammogram
