| There are so many jokes about mammograms! Have | | | | In most places in Canada, women can book their |
| you heard the one about the fridge door ...or the | | | | own appointment for a free screening mammogram; |
| bookends ...or the garage floor? Thanks to all the | | | | a doctor's referral is not required. In places without a |
| jokes, "Mammogram" has become a household word, | | | | screening program, mammography is available with a |
| and it's not that I don't have a sense of humor, but | | | | doctor's referral and is covered by health insurance. |
| as a mammography technologist, I've heard the | | | | Approximately 7% of women will be asked to have |
| jokes many times. I think the jokes are embarrassing | | | | further testing. Most of the time, follow up testing |
| for women and demeaning with regard to their | | | | involves an additional mammogram with a different |
| physical bodies. Many women say, "If men had to do | | | | view to separate the breast tissue in a particular area |
| this, there would be a better solution" - this may or | | | | to get a better image. In my analogy of the bunch |
| may not be true. Most people agree that | | | | of grapes, it's like having a few grapes on top of |
| mammograms are not perfect, but until there is a | | | | each other and separating them out in a different |
| better solution, I think it's time to look at | | | | way in order to see them better. |
| mammograms in a different light. | | | | There is controversy about the age bracket for |
| In May of 1985 and 1986 I asked my doctor to order | | | | women to have a mammogram. On a mammogram |
| a mammogram for me and he refused both times | | | | film, normal breast tissue in young women usually |
| saying I was too young. There were no screening | | | | appears to be dense; normal breast tissue in older |
| mammography centers to which I could refer myself, | | | | women usually turns to fat and appears less dense. |
| so that was that. In December of 1986 at the age | | | | Reading mammograms on young women is like |
| of 42 I felt a lump in my breast and had a | | | | looking through a tree which is full of leaves in |
| mammogram the same day. It turned out to be | | | | summer. Reading mammograms on older women can |
| Stage II breast cancer with 4 positive lymph nodes. I | | | | be compared to looking through a tree in winter. You |
| had a lumpectomy, a mastectomy and chemotherapy | | | | can see why reading mammograms on young |
| but chose not to have radiation. I obviously wasn't | | | | women is more complex than reading films on older |
| too young to have cancer. | | | | women and this is the main reason why screening |
| In May 1985 a mammogram cost less than $60.00 | | | | mammography is more effective as women mature. |
| and would have resulted in my having minor surgery | | | | The fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer will |
| to deal with a small lump. Delaying the diagnosis until | | | | often prevent a woman from having a mammogram. |
| December 1986 raised the cost of the medical care I | | | | My personal experience is that it is much better to |
| received both in dollars and the amount of human | | | | be diagnosed earlier rather than when the cancer has |
| suffering we faced. I say "we" because a diagnosis | | | | had chance to spread. The amount of fear, pain, |
| of cancer affects the family, friends and community | | | | embarrassment, and emotional anguish from having a |
| of the person with the disease. A timely | | | | mammogram does not even come close to that of |
| mammogram would have saved us all a lot of grief. | | | | being diagnosed with an advanced cancer. A |
| The common perception is that having a | | | | mammogram takes about 10 minutes; an early cancer |
| mammogram is a negative experience; I think this is | | | | can be dealt with in a reasonable amount of time, |
| a bad rap. Mammograms are quick and easy breast | | | | while an advanced cancer is much more of a time |
| X-Rays; which usually means two views of each | | | | commitment. The amount of fear that comes with a |
| breast - one from the top and one from the side. | | | | cancer diagnosis is astronomical compared to that of |
| They are performed by friendly, knowledgeable | | | | a screening mammogram. |
| technologists who do their best to help women feel | | | | It is often recommended that women have a |
| at ease. The technologists' goal is to get the best | | | | screening mammogram every two years, but many |
| films possible and also to make the experience as | | | | people believe it is better to have mammograms on |
| quick and painless as possible. | | | | an annual basis. It is probably best if women can |
| When people go for a mammogram the most | | | | consult their doctors and make the decision on an |
| important thing to know is that relaxation of the | | | | individual basis. A number of factors affect the |
| upper body is the key to a positive experience. I | | | | decision such as age, family history, general health, |
| know it's hard to relax when you're apprehensive, | | | | and previous breast problems. Between |
| but this is why I believe we need to lessen the public | | | | appointments, whether you choose to have a |
| apprehension of this test. It is easy to relax by | | | | mammogram every year or every two years, it is |
| taking some deep breaths before you have the test. | | | | important to be aware of any breast problems. If |
| By relaxing your muscles you will be much more | | | | you notice anything unusual it is wise to contact your |
| comfortable through the test than if you are tense. | | | | doctor. This applies even if your mammogram was |
| An added bonus is that the films will be of higher | | | | negative because there are a certain percentage of |
| quality, as it is easier to image the back of the breast | | | | cancers that do not show on a mammogram. |
| close to the chest wall if the pectoralis muscles are | | | | The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation promotes a |
| relaxed. When it's done, you may hear yourself | | | | three-prong approach to breast health:o annual clinical |
| saying, "That wasn't bad at all!" | | | | breast exam by a doctor or trained health |
| Some women are embarrassed to have a | | | | professionalo screening mammogramo monthly breast |
| mammogram because they don't want anyone other | | | | self exam |
| than their partner to see and touch their breasts. The | | | | Breast self-exam can be a controversial issue. Many |
| mammogram jokes add to their fear of pain and | | | | people do not recommend monthly self-exams, yet |
| embarrassment making it harder for them to | | | | many women have found their own breast cancers |
| manage, and I know of some women who avoid | | | | this way. The important thing to remember is if you |
| having a mammogram for this reason. The test is | | | | choose to do self exam, to do it right:o learn the |
| done in privacy; no one but a female technologist will | | | | proper method from a doctor or trained health |
| be present. Technologists, for the most part, are | | | | professionalo be disciplined and practice it regularlyo |
| sensitive people who will do the test as quickly and | | | | pick the same time of your menstrual cycle or the |
| professionally as they can. Many women who have | | | | same date each montho get to know your normal |
| resisted the test for a long time are amazed at how | | | | breast "architecture"o make notes of your findings, |
| simple and painless it can be. | | | | draw pictures and record dateso make detailed notes |
| Mammograms include compression of the breast with | | | | of unusual findings including dateso check with your |
| a plastic plate to produce a high quality image with | | | | doctor if you find anything worrisome |
| the least amount of radiation. Breast compression is | | | | Following these steps will give you confidence and |
| meant to be tight, but it should not be painful and it | | | | put you in charge of your breast health. Some health |
| only lasts for a few seconds. If you think about | | | | professionals are concerned that women will be |
| looking at a bunch of grapes - it's hard to see them | | | | unnecessarily alarmed if they find a problem with their |
| all from one spot. If you spread the grapes out, you | | | | breasts. I believe that an educated approach to |
| can see more grapes. Similarly with the use of | | | | breast care will reduce the fear that many women |
| compression, more breast tissue is visible when the | | | | live with, and they can consult their doctors in a |
| breast is spread out. With a flatter, thinner layer of | | | | more rational manner. Most breast lumps are benign, |
| tissue the amount of radiation required is less than if | | | | but early detection of breast cancer is worth the |
| the breast is not compressed. The amount of | | | | extra cost of investigating lumps and other unusual |
| radiation you get is as low as can be achieved if | | | | findings. |
| adequate compression is used, and also if good | | | | Mammography is a peculiar test in some ways. |
| quality control is maintained at the mammogram | | | | However, it is the gold standard at present and until |
| facility. | | | | there is a better method of screening which is also |
| In the U.S.A. the cost of a mammogram runs | | | | cost effective it makes good sense to have regular |
| between $50 and $150.00. There is financial help | | | | mammograms. Finding cancer in the early stages |
| available from insurance companies, state and local | | | | before it has a chance to spread makes the |
| programs, and from some employers. Please do not | | | | treatment much easier and the cure rate much |
| let the cost deter you from having a mammogram | | | | higher. Having a mammogram is not meant to be |
| as the cost of not having a mammogram can be | | | | funny, or even fun; but a few minutes of discomfort |
| much higher both financially and emotionally. Check | | | | rewards us with knowing we are taking action to |
| for information on the internet. | | | | help protect our breast health. |