I thought I was too young for a mammogram at 34 years old.
A mammogram is an age specific, sex specific test that is used in screenings for breast cancer. I am very diligent with my age and sex specific tests, I routinely go to my check ups, have a great relationship with my Gyn, dentist, dermatologist, etc. Breast Surgeon? I know one, but I don't see him as a patient. As a matter of fact, I was the athletic trainer for his kids and since we live in the same community, I'd consider us friends! But, not a doctor/patient thing.
After my mom's breast cancer diagnosis in 2017 I told my physicians and they ordered the BRCA 1&2 tests for me, I was negative. This is a good thing, but was also expected because my mom's cancer wasn't part of the BRCA 1&2 genealogy I guess. At the time, that was the only test available and with my age and familial history, when I was 30 years old, it wasn't suggested.
Fast forward another two years, her sister, my aunt Peggy, was also diagnosed with breast cancer. This would tally 3 breast cancers between both sisters, this was a little more concerning. Off to the doctor I went, again, reluctantly. This time, it took me a year to mention anything.
When I went to the doctor, it was as if I had a Speedy Pass on the highway to be seen by my friend and Breast Surgeon. My appointment was within two weeks.
Driving to the Breast Center was difficult, but sitting in the waiting room was worse. It was warm, beautiful and welcoming, but the despair and loneliness on the various women's faces was so sad. I was sitting there wondering if I had a gene for breast cancer when, many of the women already found out they had it while I am sure others there were already undergoing treatment for breast cancer. We weren't the same, but we might be.
I walked into my assigned patient room where a nurse instructed me to undress and use the much softer gown that was cotton instead of plastic. I did that, sat down and waited. A few moments later there was a knock on the door and the doctor with his assistant came in and he said "Hey, what are you doing here?!" with surprise and concern on his face. We've known each other for several years and like I said, I was the athletic trainer for his daughter at one of my first school's. I explained that family history and worry landed me here on the referral strength from my good friend who is my Gynecologist. He agreed and ordered a test for 12 genes! This had surely gone up from the two that I had previously. He also ordered my first mammogram. oh shit.
I wasn't looking forward to this. There are two types of doctors females don't really LOVE going to. Ya, some people like going to their dentist or their aesthetician, but the gynecologist and the mammographer are two appointments that women typically fear. I was going to get to go to all three in one month! Here we go...
I drove down to Georgetown Hospital alone, in my work outfit thinking the same thing, that I soon would be like one or several of the women in the doctor's office that were learning for the first time they had breast cancer. Or, I would be able to walk out of the office and get a reprieve for another year with negative films.
The rooms you wait in are surprisingly warm in comparison to typical doctors offices, but they aren't HOT. Just comfortable. The staff are so compassionate and nurturing. Everything was explained in detail and they were very reassuring. Mammograms are uncomfortable just by their very nature, just like everyone told me. They squish your breast from every direction possible in order to see deep growths, if there are any there. The plates that you rest your breast on are very cold! Although uncomfortable, it was never painful.
Within a week or so, maybe even 3, I received a letter in the mail that rested easy with my head. There wasn't anything concerning on my mammogram, I have dense breasts, and every single year The Breast Center will schedule my appointments for me and this will be an annual appointment I will go to. Later that month I went into discuss the genetic testing he had ordered for me. Those 12 genetic markers were negative. However, the study of epigenetics is learning about when genes "turn on" and cause mutations. Although I do not have cancer now, it's not to say that I will never get it based on my environment, quality of health, stressors, etc. In medicine, you learn quickly, there is never a guarantee for life, only death.
My story ended positivity that day, but there are many women who don't get the reassurance that I got and they get an invitation back into the office to learn about their particular type of breast cancer, treatment options, surgeries, etc. They learn if their cancer is treatable or not. They learn their prognosis and if their cancer is terminal. They learn their stage if this type of cancer can be staged, because some types cannot be staged. The conversations are not as happy as my follow up appointment, but the people there really do make you feel that you are family, that you are comfortable, and that you are getting the best type of treatment offered.
If there is history of breast cancer in your family, please share that critical information with your medical providers. Unbeknownst to most, men can get breast cancer too, so you might not think it's relevant, but it might be if you are male and your mother and sisters had breast cancer. For women, typically the recommendation for the age specific, sex specific testing starts around 40 years old but for me, I was 34.
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