October Awareness

The statistics on breast cancer are both alarming and hopeful.  Alarming how many great women are still losing their life, but, hopeful because early detection can make a huge difference.  I have a beautiful friend who is a survivor.  I confess that it is a club that I don't want to join.  

There is a commercial on tv which talks about how easy it is to get a mammogram.  I want to tell you about my experience.  

First of all, I have to tell you a secret about myself.  I don't tell many people this since I am very good at hiding this secret so very few people know.  I didn't even tell my best friend this secret for 5 years.  Ok, here it goes.   This will surprise you.  Gulp.  I have big boobs.  I know.  You are shocked, right?  

It is my genetics.  I am Ukrainian.  We tend to be all T no A.  The Dauphin Herald classified used to run an ad when I was growing up.  Specialty bras.  Start at size 48 DD and go up to 84 DD.  What other community would have this market?   

They have always been big but atleast when I was in my 20s, they were higher than my navel.  Now, I am at an age where it is difficult to touch our toes.  Not for me.  I barely have to bend and my boobs touch the floor.  I can't cycle anymore just because my boobs get bruises from my knees.  

I was in an elevator at the Richardson Building once and I had to slap a man in the face because he pinched my boob.  Then, I immediately had to apologize.  It hadn't pinched my boob, he stepped on it.  

Most women take a long time to get ready in the morning because they are getting their make-up right.  For me, I take a long time because the scaffolding, duct tape, etc to get my over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder right.  

But, in all seriousness, I have heard from many women who have had mammograms and they have said they flatten your boobs to the thickness of an envelope.  Like many women, I was terrified of having a mammogram.  So, when I got the card in the mail, I just threw it in the recycling bin.  Out of sight, out of mind.  

A few months later, I was having an appointment with my Nurse Practitioner.  She asked if I got the card in the mail and I indicated that I had but I was too scared.  She yelled at me like I never thought possible.  "I can't be responsible for your health by myself.  You need to participate.  You need to have a mammogram."  Well, that is what I heard.  In reality, she didn't raise her voice.  She just said i should follow-up and have that done.  

I also have to admit that I wasn't just scared about having a mammogram.  I was scared of having cancer.  But, I also didn't want to disappoint my Nurse Practitioner.  

I made the call and got an appointment.  

I got the same technician that is featured in the commercials.  She is amazing.  So positive.  So professional.  And she did the heavy lifting, literally.  She put my breast on the slide and I closed my eyes bracing myself for incredible pain.  I heard her say she wasn't able to get the whole breast in one picture.  I continued to brace myself.  Then, she put the other breast on the slide.  The left breast was done and now the right one was done before I even had a chance to process this.  Truly, the pain was the equivalent of a mosquito bite.  Honestly.  Maybe it is more for women with smaller breasts but it was not even mild discomfort for me.  It was nothing. 

My results were negative.  And, I will no longer put future cards in the recycling bin.