Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Breast Cancer Awareness
I just wanted to mention that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As women we should be informed and aware of early signs and know the facts. My doctor told me recently that during my monthly breast self-exam I should be looking for any changes in skin texture as well as lumps and unusual swelling. I didn't know this, so I thought I'd pass it along...I also didn't know that the whole point of the monthly self-exam is to get to know your breasts. =) Most breast lumps are not cancerous and many of us have healthy, lumpy breasts, but when we are familiar with our breasts we can detect any unusual lumps quickly and early.
Happy October to you! Get to know your breasts!
Happy October to you! Get to know your breasts!
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Yea for breast cancer awareness month! And, yea to you, WG, for posting this. My mother was diagnosed with BC a few years ago. She had a double mastectomy and went through chemo and now seems to be doing great. My grandmother and her sister also both had BC, but at much later points in life than my mother (and they were both smokers). Anyways, due to my family history, I have already had my first mammogram at the ripe young age of 30. Never hurts to get a baseline.
When my mother was diagnosed, they said that it did not look like there was anything wrong in the actual mammogram. The only reason they knew to be concerned was because the scans looked different than previous ones. So, they caught it early and before the tumors even really could show up clearly as tumors on a mammogram. Even so, they found 5 malignant tumors in her removed breast tissue--2 of which had not shown up even on the MRI scans that they did.
So, BE AWARE and get to know your breasts! If you have any family history, look into getting early mammograms. If you have been nursing recently, you'll have to wait until 3 months after you have weaned completely before getting the mammogram.
I was pleasantly suprised. It really wasn't that bad. The hardest part is holding your breath and not moving while they take the picture.
When my mother was diagnosed, they said that it did not look like there was anything wrong in the actual mammogram. The only reason they knew to be concerned was because the scans looked different than previous ones. So, they caught it early and before the tumors even really could show up clearly as tumors on a mammogram. Even so, they found 5 malignant tumors in her removed breast tissue--2 of which had not shown up even on the MRI scans that they did.
So, BE AWARE and get to know your breasts! If you have any family history, look into getting early mammograms. If you have been nursing recently, you'll have to wait until 3 months after you have weaned completely before getting the mammogram.
I was pleasantly suprised. It really wasn't that bad. The hardest part is holding your breath and not moving while they take the picture.
Kellsey, thanks for sharing about your mother (so glad she's doing well!)and your experience with the mammogram! It's important for all of us to understand that breast self-exams and mammograms are a small price to pay for early detection.
My aunt had BC and had a mastectomy. She seems to be doing well now. My mom has had several tumors biopsied but none of them have been malignant. I had to have a mammogram a couple of years ago because of some curious cysts, but it all checked out ok. like kellsey said, it wasn't that bad....i'd choose mammogram over pap smear any day!
Doctors have told me to be on the alert because of my aunt's cancer. I am doing what I can.
My aunt had BC and had a mastectomy. She seems to be doing well now. My mom has had several tumors biopsied but none of them have been malignant. I had to have a mammogram a couple of years ago because of some curious cysts, but it all checked out ok. like kellsey said, it wasn't that bad....i'd choose mammogram over pap smear any day!
Doctors have told me to be on the alert because of my aunt's cancer. I am doing what I can.
you know, we have a friend who's a oncological pharmacologist, and he's commented on the number of very young women with breast cancer (i'm talking early 30's or so) HE thinks women should start mammograms much earlier than most people do. So, good for you!
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