My Experience
But, I’m too young! I’m only 36! is my first thought when my doctor recommends scheduling my first mammogram at the end of my annual.
“It’s preventative.” she assures me. “You want a good baseline before you are in your 40s.” She gives me the scheduling number to call at the hospital and walks out the door.
The piece of paper is a dumbbell in my purse for almost a week. Won’t it hurt?! What if something is wrong, and I don’t know it yet?! I remind myself I am brave, take a deep breath, and dial the phone number. With a shaking hand I write “Alyssa: Mammogram” on our family calendar for a Wednesday morning.
Before I know it, two months pass and I am driving to the hospital after school drop-off. Before walking in, I put on new, pink lipstick and roll my shoulders down. I check in on the second floor and wait. I’m glad I brought a new novel because I wait for a long time! As the minutes pass, it feels like marbles start to roll around in my stomach. I am so nervous! Finally, the mammography technician calls my name.
“How are you today?” she asks with a smile. Her strawberry blonde hair moves like an ocean wave while I follow her down the hall.
Unexpectedly, tears spring to my eyes. “I’m so nervous, and I waited so long!” I confess. She stops walking, turns around, smiles, and pats my shoulder. “It will be over before you know it,” she reassures me. “I”ll walk you through the whole process.”
We resume walking and stop in a small dressing room. She hands me a soft, waffle knit, ivory robe. “Put this on, and I’ll see you next door in a moment.”
I walk into a dark room with a large machine in the middle. She explains how she will place each breast, one at a time, onto a shelf in the machine. It will close, but there will not be compression. It will not be uncomfortable. She takes several pictures of each breast and verifies the images will meet protocol. Within five minutes I’m done! No pain at all! She congratulates me on taking care of myself and lets me know I will receive a report from the radiologist who interprets the pictures.
I walk out the door with a smile knowing I made a brave choice for my health. I will not have to be nervous next time, now that I know what to expect—convenient scheduling at the hospital, kindness and excellence from the mammography technician, and a timely report with answers from the radiologist.
More Information about Mammograms
Getting your first mammogram (or any other medical procedure) can be nerve-wracking. What a normal response for an experience you haven’t been through before! I felt the same way. Here is why you shouldn’t wait until October to schedule:
1. Convenience
You can receive a mammogram at several locations in Birmingham and the surrounding areas, ranging from hospitals to free-standing clinics. To schedule, ask for a referral from your doctor and then call the scheduling, women’s, or radiology department of your desired location.
2. Cost
According to Susan G. Komen: “Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies cover the cost of screening mammograms…Since September 2010, the Affordable Care Act has required all new health insurance plans to cover screening mammograms.” Talk to your doctor!
3. Care
According to BreastCancer.Org: “Mammograms are one of the most important tools doctors have to help screen for and diagnose breast cancer. Safe and sensitive enough to pick up most breast abnormalities, the technique has been in use for more than 50 years…Getting a mammogram is often the best way to find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. A mammogram can detect breast cancer before any symptoms develop. It can detect a tumor that cannot be felt. Some studies have shown that having regular mammograms can lower your risk of dying from breast cancer.” Why wait?!
