But I just have to make myself sit here for a few minutes and tell you a story. I went to see the often unapologetic, somewhat incorrigible, but always lovable Dr. V a couple of weeks ago for my semi-annual check up. If you missed some of last months posts, Dr. V is my endocrinologist. He oversees the care that I take of my Insulin Resistance. He pushes me to eat more carefully, to exercise more efficiently, and to just take good care of myself in general. He does this with considerable knowledge and unequalled intelligence all laced with a rather acerbic wit.
That being said, it is his sarcasm that is the catalyst for this story today. At the end of my visit this time, Doc looked at the ol' chart and asked me if I was current on my latest mammogram.
"Uh, um, like, mammogram, mammogram?"
"Yes. When was your last mammogram?" He doesn't find me nearly as funny as I find him.
"Well see, I know I am nearly 42 and I should have already had a couple of these, and since it is nearly my birthday again, I should have another one here real soon and so, like, um, I have never had a mammogram." Still not funny I guess.
He turns his little spinny stool around to face his computer again and records into his little microphone thingy, "Patient 0370 Nature Girl, N-a-t-u-r-e, G-i-r-l doing well, blah blah doctor stuff, blah blah. Is overdue for mammogram. I am writing her a prescription for the test, what she does with it is her business, but if she gets breast cancer, she has been warned, so it is on her head not mine." What did I tell you...Hilarious huh?
There may have been some sort of stern look or eye rolling, but I was laughing so hard, I couldn't see well through tears.
So there you have it. I am overdue for a mammogram. What do you think of this? Do you ladies go? Maybe you are all too young to worry about that yet? I know that this post begs for a very obvious followup post, but it may take more than a big push to get the girls in the smasher in the first place, so a followup seems lightyears away. Go ahead, inspire me, reprimand me, encourage me. All I know is that actually getting a mammogram sounds like some pretty golden writing material, so it seems that for the sake of my craft, I ought to go through with it. And yet... it sounds rather inconvenient on so many levels...
| Quote of the Day: "If life gives you lemons, stick them down your shirt and make your boobs look bigger."--someone funny, I mean inappropriate |
Oh goody, it's my turn to play the heavy! Just do it, woman! I waited until I was 41, because I was scared of what they might find. Not that I had any reason to think they'd find anything at all, but you know how I am.
ReplyDeleteAnd...yeah. It kinda sucks. But it's not actually all that bad. They squish you flat and you grimace and whimper, and then they let go. Then they do it again. And again. And then you go home and don't worry about it for another year.
Unless they call you and tell you to come back in, which happened to me. Scared me to death. Diagnosis: cyst. Normal. Hasn't changed since. Did an ultrasound, followups, etc. It's all good. Once they have that baseline mammo, it's not nearly as scary the next time because they already have a record of what your normal is.
So take your tatas to the pancake machine, pronto! You'll be glad you did. =)
p.s. a friend tells me that if you take ibuprofen first, it doesn't even hurt. Another friend tells me hers never hurts, even w/o meds. So I'm probably just a wimp. You can totally do it.
Ok Ok...but my tatas are silver dollar pancakes at best...
ReplyDeleteHere cause I clicked over from Carrie Stroud (whom I love) after I had noticed your post title (because, hello, who doesn't notice post titles that say boobies??) on Charlotte Later's sidebar (whom I also love) and so I decided that if they both read you, then maybe I should too.
ReplyDeleteSo. Here I am. To talk about boobies.
I'm 30, and still yet unmammogrammed. But, since I have a lovely friend who is also 30, who just had a double mastectomy because her silver dollar pancakes were FULL of cancer, I say absolutely go. Because it would suck if you didn't, and then later had a reason to wish that you had, yes?
And really truly, we all need to have ridiculously awkward experiences every now and again so that we may blog about them.
I say, mammograms are win/win!
(And it was lovely to visit your blog. I shall return again soon.)
Do it. :-). When I was 30 I had an abnormality that had to be monitored. You're never too young. Love you and your writing!
ReplyDeleteGo. I had my first mammogram when I was 34 because my mother and grandmothers all had breast cancer (postmenopausal, but still breast cancer.) I have had to have a few retakes but they were just fibrous issues.
ReplyDeleteI have had the same radiologist for over 10 years. It isn't comfortable, but not awful. I can handle it once a year.
Just go. Peace of mind is good.
Up here, I think it's every two years that I have to go, and it always amazes me how fast it's over because the technicians are so good at chatting and distracting me from my nickle pancakes. Go for it, it's no biggie, and I'm looking forward to what you have to say about it after!
ReplyDeleteNickels! Haha! Loonies maybe?
ReplyDeleteI haven't gone yet, but my time is drawing near. I'm not even good at the monthly self-check (am I the only one who feels all kinds of lumps no matter what)? You have reasons to go to the doctor all the time and unless I develop something the same, I will probably put off all those yearly check up things way too long.
ReplyDeleteThat is a long way of saying, "You should make the appointment ASAP."
Dooooo it! After working in oncology for a year I fully realize the value of this simple screening exam. Catch a cancer when it is still localized to breast tissue and you are golden. Wait until it has spread to bones, brain, etc. Well..then not so good. I saw so many unfortunate cases where if women had just went in for their screening exams they would still be alive and well being mothers, playing with grandchildren, etc. I just had my first one a year early because of some concerns. Let me tell you, it was not bad at all. No pain for me. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, first guy to post. OK. I will try to be tactful.
ReplyDeleteAs a man, WE LOVE THE BOOBIES!!!
Go get checked. I have never had it done, but it have to be less intrusive than the prostate exam.
Don't be a wuss...
ReplyDeleteLol <3 <3<3
It's easy peasy. Really.