Id  like to take a moment with the women in this group and share with them my experience with a mammogram.

A few months back I noticed a small lump in my left breast. I went into my OB/GYN for a breast exam to confirm that yes I did indeed feel a lump. She told me it felt more cystic to her than anything else but to truly find out what was going on that I should go in for a mammogram. I agreed completely.

But the fear I had of having a mammogram was profound. I had heard all of the horror stories about how they squish your boobs until they are as flat as a pancake and how painful the process is. I also heard that they ask you while flattening your boobs does that hurt and if you say yes and can stand the pain a bit longer that they will press down some more.

So soon after I left the OB/GYN's office I called for an appointment with my hands shaking. They gave me an appointment for the following Monday and it was already Thursday. So I only had to wait a few days. All the while fearing this upcoming mammogram and wondering what that lump was. Monday comes and I can't even begin to explain how afraid I was to go in and get my boobs flattened until they looked like a pancake.

I take a slow ride to South Towns radiology pondering what was going to happen and how I would handle all of this. Anyhow I get there and I register and they tell me it will be a few minutes. GOOD, I thought to myself because I really didn't want to do this. Well a few minutes turned into one minute. I thought a few minutes HA, you only gave me one. I was absolutely petrified of having this done.

They took me into the back room and told me I had to remove my top and bra and gave me a pink gown. I sat in the dressing room for less than a minute and waited for the tech to come and get me. She sat me down in the chair, asked me about my family history and asked me if I ever had a mammogram done. I told her no I had not and wasn't looking forward to it either.  She then asked me where I felt the lump and felt for it herself. She explained the whole procedure to me before she started, which helped to ease my fear a little bit. Then it starts and I think Oh No here we go and here comes the pain.  I was waiting for the pain, I didn't feel any.  Then I start thinking okay it's going to get worse the more she tightens down, still no pain. Before I knew it the mammogram was over. I said this is not painful at all. I've heard all of these horror stories and was absolutely afraid to come in for this. She then explained to me that they don't squeeze anymore than they have to and that woman put off this procedure because they are so afraid after hearing all of the same horror stories I did. I thought to myself WOW this procedure has such a bad reputation and woman avoid this because they are afraid of the pain.  Well anyhow she took me back to the dressing room and told me I could get dressed, I then said okay and  asked if it was okay for me to leave as well. I figured I would have to wait about a week for these results. That is when she informed me that they would never let a woman leave after having a mammogram and make them wait for the results. She told me woman are afraid enough to have the procedure done and to make them wait for the results is not something that they would ever do. WOW! I though to myself, I wasn't ready to hear the results, I had resigned myself to have to wait a week and that it was okay to wait because I was so afraid of the outcome. Anyhow the results were negative and I am okay. Thank God!

Another x ray tech who knew I was petrified of the procedure seen me afterwards and asked me how did it go. I then told her it wasn't painful at all. She smiled at me and gave me a red carnation and asked me to tell anyone who would listen because so many woman are afraid of this that they put it off for as long as possible and it can save their lives. I told her I would have no problem what so ever and that I would spread the word. She said thank you and I said no thank you. All of those women were so kind . I can't even begin to express my thanks to these wonderful women who took great care of me, explained everything every step of the way and help me feel at ease.

So ladies NEVER EVER put off these life saving mammograms. They are not  painful. If we can handle labor and delivery we can handle a mammogram. Just avoid having one around that time of the month.Breasts get sore and tender around then and that would not be a good time to go.  Sorry I got so long winded.

Tags: breast cancer, mammograms, october lumps in the breast

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