Wellness Wednesday - Mammograms

Today we are going to talk about mammograms.  My yearly check up calls for a mammogram.  I have been getting them for a couple of years now.  I have had a few scares and it can be quite traumatizing.  So what is a mammogram, what does it really do, and why talk about it?

What is a mammogram?  A mammogram is an x-ray picture that can show Radiologists what is going on inside of the breasts.  There are signs that they look for.  If you have never had one, usually at age 40, you will be recommended to have a screening.  Sometimes younger if there are signs or history of breast cancer in your family history.  I had first mammogram before I hit 40.  I remember being scared of the machine that I had only heard about.  You basically get your boobies squeezed to pancakes in every direction in order to get good pictures by a technician.  By the way, they are not allowed to tell you anything about what they see or your results.  Only your doctor or the radiologists can talk to you about what they see, find, or don't find.  One tip from me is don't go when your boobies are sensitive like right before your period.  Also, don't wear a dress because you will have to undress and de-robe.  And they make you leave all your personal belongings in a locker.  No phones or purses are allowed in exam room.

What is next?  In my case, results are mailed.  If any further testing is needed, I will receive a call from my doctor as well to schedule a diagnosis follow up.  In my case this has happened to me more than once.  It is so scary.  Even though they tell you not to worry, you worry.  You start thinking the worse.  The first time it happened my friend came and met me to be with me.  There was something seen in my left breast that look like a spec.  It could have been left over deodorant, this is why they ask for you not to wear deodorant or lotions the day of your testing.  My diagnostic came back as nothing.  It was a lymph node that needed extra looking at and after reviewing it again, there was no signs of anything.  A lymph node carries fluid like a tunnel from one place to another when there is no blockage.  This year I had another diagnostic follow up that needed to be done.  Like before, I started freaking out and was very concerned.  I am getting older.  I am not sure about you but when they tell you they need to see you again in the doctor's office, everything starts to hurt or feel broken all of a sudden.  My diagnostic showed nothing to worry about.  So I started asking several questions.  Are you looking at the same spot as the spot before?  What are you looking at?  What is the difference in my results?  The radiologists was happy to answer all my questions and put my mind at easy because of all my new found concerns.  The spot that was of concern this time was not the same one as before.  Lymph node is stable, no changes.  This was not what they were looking at.  The spot this time was a mass.  A solid mass that needed to be looked at.  But there was no concern from the radiologists after my 3D mammogram and ultrasound.

2D vs 3D?  I have previously had 2D and have been called back for testing.  I figured 3D would be better pictures.  I also thought that I was not going to be abused by that machine, but nope not happening.  The 2D and 3D are done similar.  But the 3D takes more pictures to compare versus the one shot with 2D.

Ultrasound?  This is like any ultrasound you have seen.  A sonogram of the breast.  It is not as painful as the mammogram but it can cause discomfort after you have had the mammogram pancake tests.  Also, when the technicians and the radiologists have to go over the same area several times.

Results?  These are immediate.  The radiologists came in, ran a few more scans on the ultrasound machine, and then she discussed my results.  It was a huge relief that I got the all clear, see you next year.

Costs?  My mammogram is part of my routine check up.  My diagnostic had to be part of my deductible.  I was mad that they could not fit me in the schedule in December.  Deductibles are calendar year.  They start over in January.  I was able to make a payment and pay the rest by mail.  I know that the hospitals have to get paid but I do not think this just prevent us from getting the health care we need.  What if I did not have the money to pay for my tests?

There are places that offer free mammograms, search online.  Also, do your research.  Ask a lot of questions.  There are no dumb questions.

Have you had any scares?  Any more tips?

Rethink P.I.N.K - Mammogram Awareness

***Disclosure-Compensated Post.  All opinions stated are my own based on my own experiences.

Did you know tomorrow, Oct 16 is National Mammography Day?

• The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Other organizations cite every other year as the optimal time to get checked.  

In 2013, I had a scare when I went in for my mammogram results and I was only 35.  In case you missed it, read more about it here-My Mammogram Results.  Are you 40 years old?  Have you self tested yourself?  Have you had your mammogram this year?     

Solis Mammography wants to help by encouraging you to talk to your doctor, explain your unique health history, and help make the choice that’s right for you.  When you are ready, Solis is here to offer an exceptional experience – eliminating stress and anxiety in every way possible.

What:  Solis wants women to know that most women – 7 out of 8 – will not get breast cancer, and that their annual mammogram is a way to focus on empowerment, choice and peace of mind.

As the nation’s largest independent provider of screening and diagnostics for breast health services, Solis wants women to Rethink P.I.N.K. this October and focus on breast health.  

Rethink “P.I.N.K.”:

    • P=Peace of Mind.  Solis Mammography has trademarked the Peace of Mind Mammogram™ to reflect their promise of offering such an exceptional experience that women  won’t avoid getting the mammogram they need.  The environment of each center and exceptional quality of patient care offered by specialists in breast imaging leads to peace of mind for the patients they serve.

    • I=Incredible Service.  Solis Mammography’s entire team is deeply committed to the women and physicians they serve.  From online scheduling and fast results delivered by secure email within 24 to 48 hours, the company is proud to cite that 98 percent of their patients would give them a positive recommendation to family or friends.

    • N=Not what you Expect.  While many women associate mammograms with pain, Solis’ breast dedicated technologists are highly trained in breast compression and placement.  This results in 89 percent of their patients reporting little to no discomfort during their exam.

    • K=Knowledge is Power.  Rethink the common statistic most women cite – that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime.  Solis encourages women to remember that this also means 7 in 8 women will NOT get breast cancer.  But if you are the 1 in 8, you want to find any anomaly as EARLY as possible, so that your treatment is as EASY as possible.

When:  The Entire Month of October including Oct. 16 which is National Mammography Day . 
***Note – Many Solis centers are offering extended weekday and Saturday hours during the month of October.  

Where:  There are 4 centers across Houston. Visit their website to find the most convenient center: http://www.solismammo.com//find-a-center/Texas/HOU

About Solis Mammography:

• Solis Mammography is a specialized healthcare provider focused exclusively on providing women an exceptional mammography experience.  Headquartered in Addison, Texas, Solis currently operates 31 centers across four states – Texas, Arizona, Ohio, and North Carolina.  The company operates both wholly owned centers and multiple successful joint ventures with hospital partners. Solis provides a complete range of highly specialized breast health services including screening and diagnostic mammography (2D and 3D), computer-aided detection, breast ultrasound, stereotactic biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy. 

• The staff at Solis is dedicated to providing you with a warm, caring experience.

• Solis understands that mammography is an intimate test; they are trained to be gentle AND get the best picture of your breast.

• Solis cares about your time! The mammogram takes 5-10 minutes; your entire visit usually takes between 30-45 minutes.

• Results are delivered to you by secure email in 24-48 hours.

• “Solis is focused on understanding your concerns, anxieties and needs. You’ll never be treated like a number at Solis Mammography!”

• Convenient - Solis has multiple locations, so finding a center and scheduling your appointment is easy.  Solis provides: Easy-to-make appointments via phone or computer, walk-in appointments are also available.  Use the online appointment calendar to quickly book your appointment - choose the time and the day that work best for you. 

For more information, visit www.SolisMammo.com.

My Mammogram - Results are In

Last week I told you about my first visit to get a mammogram, and how awesome my visit went.  If you missed it,  click here to read about my experience.  So I took the first step by going in to get a mammogram screening done but I wasn't done there.  The results are the next step to this process.

I never planned on this being a blog post or me sharing more than I already did about how important it is for all women to have a test done but after my experience I want to share.  I remember always being told when I was younger - Knowledge is power.  Many women may be scared to get tested.  Maybe you don't have money.  Maybe you think this is a stupid test.  Whatever your reason for taking it or not taking it, I ask you to read my story.

On Friday, August 9 at lunch time.  I went to pick up lunch for the office.  I was in line waiting for my order to be ready.  I pulled my phone out and realized I had a missed call.  The number looked familiar and it happened to be from my OB/GYN.  I called back and asked to speak to my nurse.  Brenda and I have a great nurse/patient relationship after the many visit we had during my pregnancy.  Another nurse came on the phone and said, "Actually I called you."  Remember I am picking up lunch at a busy restaurant, I am in line while my food is getting prepared, and now on the phone.  She goes on to tell me that my results came back and I need to go back for an U L T R A S O U N D....  WHAT???  Everything started to go in slow motion around me.  I heard exactly what she said but was frozen in time.  An ultrasound.  After the phone call, I panicked and freaked out.  I grabbed our lunch, paid, and went out the door.  I sat in my truck crying.  I didn't know what else to do.  I sent out a message to my friends to please pray for me because of what had just happened.  They were awesome.  I started receiving kind words, and someone even sent me a song to listen to.  It was so beautiful.  I returned to work, wiped my tears, came in with the food, and put up a front as we ate lunch at the conference table.  I could not remember exactly what the nurse said but I knew I had to go back for testing.  I told a co-worker what happened.  She told me to call back the nurse and to ask her to explain it all over so I could process it.  When I called back, all she told me was that my tests were unclear and I needed to go back in for retesting.  My Friday was turned upside.  I could no longer concentrate.  I tried to listen to everyone's comments about them being sent for retest, test being unclear, and this happens all the time.  But all I could think about is this doesn't happen to ME all the time.  On my way home, I cried, cried, and cried some more.  I had already talked to my husband and explained everything to him but when I got home everything was suppose to be normal.  I, mommy, had to do mommy duties.  I, wife, had to do wife duties.  So when I drove up to the house, I wiped my tears, and walked in like normal.  The weekend flew by with all the things I had to do, basically "Ain't Nobody Got Time for THAT!"

See I think it is in our culture for Latinas to be handle all things.  My husband jokes and always says that I am like superwoman.  I do magic.  He doesn't know how I do it but I can handle so much.  Even at work they tell me I am not normal.  I work faster.  I am not cut from the same mold as others.  But I have always been taught to handle everything.  I have had a hard time saying NO to people.  I am a great multitask-er.  Maybe an overachiever or some sorts.  I said all this to say - I am suppose to handle this because I always handle everything.  But I don't.  When I almost lost my daughter, I learned I have no super powers.  I do not make magic.  I am human.  Everything changed at that moment.  I became weak and very emotional after that.  I have since been trying to get control back.  Back to handling and juggling everything by myself.  Even though I know, that I am only putting up a good fight.  Back to my story....

I had called to schedule an appointment and was told the earliest they could see me was Monday.  Monday has come around and I like my normal self and back to handling all things.  Diaper bag ready, dinner is in the crock pot cooking, lunch is in the refrigerator ready to be warmed,  and me headed to work.  I went to work as usual.  A little before my appointment I did start to panic a little but I didn't pay it any mind because I had so much work to do that it kept my mind busy.  My bestfriend offer to meet me at my appointment and also my friend who just happens to work in the same office. I got to my appointment with my heart beating like crazy.  A heard my name called as I was checking in and it was a familiar voice.  My girlfriend was there and had been waiting for my arrival.  My bestfriend arrived shortly after.  Here is where my story really begins...sorry I talk alot.

Round 2 - Note-No pretty, fancy spa robe.  My deer in the headlights slash everything is gonna be ok smile.

Nurse L took to the mammogram room.  She told me they saw something on my mammogram on my left breast.  STOP.  BREATH.  I was in shock.  I said what did they find.  The found something on my left breast.  She said the doctor would explain everything to me after the screening, not to worry, and that everything was going to be alright.  Nurse L was so kind and nice.  She explained everything every step of the way.  She said once the doctor saw these frames he may not order an ultrasound.  That's when I remember that the word U L T R A S O U N D is what originally freaked me out on Friday.  I know when a doctor orders ultrasounds, they have a reason to.  My brain started to go a million miles.  After a few shots were taken, she went and reviewed them with the doctor.  She came back and said the doctor wants me to go to ultrasound.  THUMP. THUMP.  Nurse R comes and takes me to the ultrasound room.  The ultrasound room...hum...a bed, a machine, and the nurse.  It is like a ring, a boxer, and a bell.  Anyways.  As I laid there and tried to relax the nurse kept assuring me everything is ok.  But everything is not ok or else I would not be there, right?  I stared at this machine.  I have no idea what I am looking at but I am watching the nurse, every move, every click, every stroke, everything.   She kept going over a certain area and after so many ultrasounds with my pregnancy I know something is up in that area she keeps wanding.  Afterwards, Nurse R had explained the doctor would come review her work and come in and wand himself.  He did.  I was sent back to go to mammogram for more screenings.  The doctor asked for more frames.  He then came to assist Nurse L with my frames.  He wanted some specific shots to be taken.  This entire time I am freaking out.  I have no idea what is going on.  I am letting them do their work and I guess I figure the less I know the better for now.  They are informing me of what they are doing it just not WHY?  Here comes the WHY?  On my mammogram there is something showing up.  This is the reason they asked me to come back and retest my left breast.  The reason they have me going back and forth from mammogram to ultrasound is because whatever they are finding (Cyst/lymph node/?) they cannot find on the ultrasound.  The last frame they took was for the doctor to mark the area where the ? is at.  X marks the spot right.  I headed back to ultrasound with the doctor and nurse R.  We proceeded to look for this unknown ? spot.  Fast forward....  the mammogram shows a spot of concern but for some reason the ultrasound is not finding it.  (That is like when you are pregnant and they do a sonogram to tell you there is a heartbeat.  But when they do the ultrasound, there is nothing there.)  The doctor is not concerned so I will not be sent for a biopsy.  I will have to return to be screened again.  We will check to see if it it shows up again on the mammogram or if this spot grows.  For now, I should not be concerned is what they are telling me.  The doctor did all this testing because he wanted to be 100% sure that it IS nothing that he sees.  The only way to tell is to keep checking it and to continue to monitor.  I left the doctor's office breathing.  I was so glad that my friends were there for me.  I think I would have broke after the hour and a half of testing if I would have been by myself.

I am 35.  My mammogram of my left breast helped my doctors to early detect something.  Early detection is key to me fighting for my life.  Not that I have to fight for my life but if there is something, darn straight I am ready to put up a fight.  And you should too.

Now I ask you, have you had your mammogram?  Do you self test?  Do you have any pain, discharge, or concerns?  CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!  Please schedule your annual well woman visits and take care of yourselves.

Thanks for listening.  I hope my story opens your eyes.  There is not history of breast cancer in my family.  I answered no to all the screening questions.  And they found something.  Think about it.

What Age is Your Body?

Turning a year older for some people may be the end of the world but to me it has been a celebration of my life.  I turned 35.  That number is not scary to me what is scary the age my body is.  My mind thinks I am 25.  But what is my body saying?  A show I am a die hard fan of, Biggest Loser, has the contestants take a test and they are told what age their body is.  Not how old they are but if they continue to live their life as they are, this is the age their body is aging at.  I did not take one of these tests but have taken steps to having my mind and body both saying 25.  So can you!  I started by having a physical.  Do you have one every year?  Do you kids?  If you have insurance, use it to get a check up.  Routine visits are less expensive than emergency visits.  Who wants to be at the hospital with some unknown sickness?  While at my physical my doctor wished me Happy Birthday and said the "M-word".  But I just turned 35.  My doctor said she likes to send her patient this early because early detention can help find cancers and chances of survival are higher.  But the "M-word"  is scary.  Ladies who have had these test told me they were expensive and painful.  So there was alot of me to intake at one time and consider about a mammogram.

First, cost.  My doctor issued me a referral.  I called my insurance and they verified that my insurance covers the mammogram 100% as part of my well-woman routine screening.  So this test is FREE to me.  (If you have questions, consult your doctor and call your insurance as well.)  I called and scheduled my appointment at the nearest location.  My insurance has several locations all over for me to choose from.  The day came for my appointment.  I was told not to wear deodorant or perfume and guess what, I forgot.  So as I am driving to my appointment I am wiping my armpits.  I was already nervous about my mammogram.  I arrived, checked in, and was given this cute pink bag with goodies inside.

I was told to have a seat and that a nurse would come get me.  The nurse did come to get me.  I told her I felt like a little kid with my goodie bag and if it was all a trick to get my mind off from what I was about to experience.  She started laughing and said "but seriously follow me upstairs".  Then I went on to tell her, "Now you are distracting me by taking me all over the place to calm my nerves, right?"  I made her laugh again.  She told me I had nothing to worry about.  She was really nice.  She calmed my nerves and explained the process.  I had to undress from waist up but I was given a really cute robe to wear.  I felt like I was going into a spa.

Then I was taken to the examination room.  The dreaded machine was in front of me.  I stood in front of the machine she positioned me and the machine.  Told me to stop breathing for a second and done.  She moved the machine and asked me to place my arm on the side.  Positioned me and machine again, done.  On to the next ta-ta.  It took less than 10 minutes, I could even say less than 5.  But we started talking about my kids and well you know a mom talking about a kid, la-la-la....  The whole experience was not scary, traumatizing, or painful at all.  It did not cost me anything.  And I even got a goodie bag or like bloggers call them "swag" bag.  I no longer will be scared of the "M" word.  Now I just have to wait for the results.

Have you had a mammogram?  If you are 40 or older, what are you waiting for?