Mammogram annually?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-1999
Mammogram annually?
12
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 6:26pm
I had my first mammogram last year at the wonderful age of 40. For some reason I didn't retain or remember that you are supposed to get them annually. I didn't enjoy it at all and would wait a while but if we are supposed to get one annually then I guess I'll call for an appointment. What do you guys do?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2001
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 6:56pm
Just went for my annual yesterday. I actually started going after my 40th birthday but have been faithful since then. Definitely not the most comfortable experience in the whole world but the consequences of not going far outweigh the discomfort and I know I would always regret being diagnosed without having done what I needed to do.

Susan

Avatar for ive_got_five
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2001
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 7:36pm
Hi Cindy. I had my first mammogram last year at 46. The reason I didn't go sooner was because I have two young children and was either nursing or pregnant, and then you have to leave a gap between when you stop nursing, etc. etc. I went for another this year in July.

I can sympathize that it's not a particularly "comfortable" procedure. But I look at it this way. That little bit of discomfort may save me from a lot more painful procedure down the road, simply by detecting something early!

A couple of tips, avoid excessive caffine a couple of days before your mammo and try to schedule it for the middle of your menstrual cycle. Your breasts are less tender then! It works for me!

The good news is that after 50 you only need to do it every two years. The reason they recommend annually before that is because younger women have denser breasts and it is harder to detect anomilies (sp?).

Sorry if I sound a bit preachy, but it's a subject close to my heart. I lost my dear mom to breast cancer almost 4 years ago. She battled it for 25 odd years and it eventually won! My MIL also died from cancer that began in her breast. And the sister of a good friend died at the ripe old age of 38 from it!! Too many! I'd rather not see more statistics.

Hugs,

Shar

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 7:44pm
I had my first one at 40...and did the next one a year later, then had a lump and had another one earlier than a year with ultrasound.
“You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” -Brian Tracy
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 8:54pm
I get mine done every year.I'm always glad to get it over with but feel like it's important to stay up todate on it.

Miss P




 

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 7:45am
Over due for mine, and thanks for the reminder. Going to call my OBGYN and book my appointment. I think I am about 1 1/2 years behind.

Deb

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 8:23am
I've been going faithfully every year since I was 36.

Lori

"Remember, I'm pullin' for ya.  We're all in this together." --Red Green

cl for Ask the

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 9:33am
I had my first one last year too. I have implants, and the technician was really great, I only got a tight squeeze on the right one once, then she adjusted the machine by hand after that.

We gotta do what we gotta do...

Lee Ann

Lee Ann

www.werenotafraid.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-1999
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 12:01pm
Thanks everyone you motivated me to make my appointments...I've procrastinated my gyno appointment for almost 2 years I made that appointment for the first week in November I also have my mammo appt for Oct 20th! I guess even though we dread these appointments it is the responsible thing to do.

Thanks

cindylee
Avatar for eclectic5777
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 2:06pm

I had my yearly check up with a pap and mamo a few weeks back.

You Were Born An Original...   Don't Die A Copy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 2:38pm
No history of breast cancer in my family, and I don't have hardly any fibroids or anything like that, and my doc's going with every other year. I'd found a lump while nursing my DD a few months prior, and while it turned out to be a plugged milk duct, it was recommended to go ahead and get one done after I stopped nursing. That was the following summer at age 38, and I've been getting them bi-annually ever since.

You've probably read about the controversy whether it should be annually or biannually. I think it depends on the person and the family history as Lori alluded to.












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