Author: Maria Alfano
Breast cancer is scary at any age but when you do everything right and have regular check-ups, it’s even scarier. Every two years I go for a breast screening mammogram. This year was no different…except the initial results through me for a loop. I wanted to share my experience in the hope to enlighten the millions of women who are facing this situation on a daily basis.
Since I was in my early 40s I started getting screened for breast cancer. There is no history of breast cancer in my family but cancer, in general, is rampant on both sides of the family. My doctor decided it would be prudent for us to start screening early just “in case.”
I hope that through this post, I can impart to you the importance of getting screened, how to test yourself between screenings, and the lessons I learned along the way.
A Close Call – My Brush With Breast Cancer And The 3 Things I Learned That You Absolutely Need To Know
Where do I begin? For years I have been getting screened – not because of a history of breast cancer but because I was susceptible to both uterine and colorectal polyps. If not attended to these polyps would turn into cancer. While breast cancer is not prevalent in my bloodline, there are many other types of cancers that are. Screening for breast cancer was supposed to be just a precaution. Or was it?
Mammogram
The mammogram is essentially an x-ray of your breast. It helps identify any masses that may be present in the breast. There could be a variety of types of masses that will fall into 2 categories: malignant and benign. Malignant in no uncertain terms means breast cancer. Benign means these lumps or tumors are harmless. They could be fat deposits, cysts (fluid deposits), blockages in the ducts beneath the nipples post-menopause. Women who have nursed their infant children often have dried-up milk glands that can appear as masses during a mammogram.
A mammogram is a simple and quick process. The equipment will compress your breast between two plates and take a picture of it that looks much like an x-ray. It shows the tissue of the breast and any unusual formations. Lumpy breasts are not uncommon for women, especially if you have had children and nursed them.
Some women experience pain with this test, to be honest, besides some strong pressure when the breast is squeezed between the 2 plates, I can’t say that it hurt. It is uncomfortable but not painful. And, you may be asked to perform some unique acrobatics to ensure the breast is in the correct position for the debut in its portrait!
To get a complete picture of what is happening a combination of mammogram and ultrasound would be the ideal way to determine what the lumps really are.
Self-Testing
Follow these steps to protect yourself and catch any lumps early. Early detection of breast cancer makes it one of the most curable forms of cancer. The best time to do this is when coming out of the shower before you dry off. You’re already in your birthday suit and you have no excuse not to take care of yourself. “I forgot” is not an acceptable reason not to self-examine. Too shy or embarrassed to do this yourself, then ask your spouse to help you with the examination process. You will be happy you did it.
- With arms at your side look at the breasts in the mirror and observe their shape. They should like they normally do without any kind of distortion.
- Raise your arms and look at them again. The shape should remain similar to when your arms are down at your side. Keep an eye out for rashes, deformed skin, or bulges. Watch for any fluids extruding from the nipples.
- Lay down and reach one arm at a time over your head. With the fingers of the opposite hand gently but firmly press down in circular motions onto the breast starting from the base of the breast all the way into the middle to the nipple ensuring to cover the entire breast and underarm area. Repeat this on the other breast.
- Repeat step 3 while sitting or standing
If you find something, anything at all that is unusual, contact your doctor right away. Do not delay as this could be a matter of life or death.
My brush with breast cancer
For years I knew about a small fat deposit on my left breast. It was discovered when I was in my mid-40s. We observed it every time I had a mammogram. It was measured and compared to the previous picture. For years there was no change. Then this year I had the scare of my life.
When they told me they saw something in the picture, I wasn’t concerned. I wasn’t even phased by it because I was expecting it to be my dear old friend Fat Deposit. When the radiologist called to tell me they found something, I reacted like I always do and said, “yup, no problem, I was expecting you to find the fat tissue.” When he told me no this was different, I almost dropped the phone. What was he saying? Did I hear him right? Was there something else going on? How could this be happening? There was no pain, no symptoms, not even a lump – nothing! I was numb.
I had to have another mammogram and this time, they also wanted to do an ultrasound just to be 100% certain of what they found. The worst part is I would have to wait a month for a follow-up appointment. The wait was the most trying thing I experienced. I got deep into my own head, prepared myself for the worst. I started to get my affairs in order. Whatever I could do to keep myself busy so that I would not drive myself crazy with worry, I did.
The day of reckoning could not come soon enough. I refused to leave the doctor’s office that day without knowing my results. Thankfully, I am happy to say, that the tests showed that the new tests showed nothing new.
Three lessons I Learned
Lesson # 1
DEODORANT – although I showered before going to my appointment and did not apply any deodorants/antiperspirants or body lotions prior to my appointment, deodorant can leave a residue that will cause shadows and trick the mammogram into showing possible lumps that aren’t really there. As gross as this may sound, try not to use any deodorant or lotions for at least 2 days prior to your exam. This will ensure there is nothing left behind that could be misconstrued as a mass on your breast.
Lesson # 2
ACROBATICS – the technician knows what he/she is doing. If they ask you to turn this way, pose that way, or move into the machine as far as you can go then just do it. They need to make the breast as straight as possible so avoid and wrinkles in the skin. These wrinkles will cause shadows and not give a clear picture of your breast tissue. When the technician asks you not to breathe for those few seconds, don’t breathe, don’t blink, don’t move. The slightest, tiniest, most insignificant movement like batting an eyelash can cause the machine to pick up shadows that just aren’t there. I prefer to shut my eyes while the test is happening and take a big deep breath before I have to hold on for 10 seconds. It may seem like an eternity, but ten seconds is nothing in the scope of your day. You can do this.
Lesson #3
UNDERWIRE bras – this was my biggest lesson learned. Underwire bras can compress the breast tissue unnecessarily and leave some bruising on the tissue that can show up as a shadow on the mammogram. Mammograms cannot decipher between a bruise or a mass as both show up as dark spots. While pushup bras make the twins look nice, you may want to wear a sports bra instead for a week or so before your mammogram.
In Conclusion
Give yourself a fighting chance and a breather from the fear of what they may find by observing these three very simple things before you get tested. Trust me, you will be grateful you didn’t have to go through what I did. Because I had no idea how much deodorant/lotions, underwire bras, and the slightest movement would impact my outcome, I suffered the consequences of panic for a whole month.
Support the fight for the cure as too many women lose the fight with cancer every single day. You can make make a big difference with a small amount. Every penny counts when it comes to research and beating breast cancer.
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