Just had my annual one 2 weeks ago. My first one (baseline at 40) was a bit uncomfortable, but the annual ones are much less so for me.

Thanks for the reminder lovely Lynne:). I have no family history but have a breast check by my doctor annually, but I am aware that I should now start having regular mammograms... I will follow up. Thankyou.

For those who are unemployed and/or uninsured in the United States, here's information about the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program through the CDC. It provides breast and cervical cancer screening:

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/about.htm

Malina, I hope Anne's link is helpful? I think it's a crime that screening is not provided. I have private insurance, but have often had to pay for my own even though I have a FH, as in some countries insurers won't pay on that basis alone.

Sona, thank-you for chiming in. Being involved also gives you some sense of control, too, which is important. And as Isabel's experience teaches us, sometimes we have to be the captain of our own ship in these things. Isabel, I am so glad you perservered with investigations!

Anne, thank-you for the link!

Jonesy and Malina, I agree with the discomfort! I take a panadeine before I go in but it's still uncomfortable. Please consider getting it done soon.

`Deborah, Dianthus, and Heleen, please don't delay. I'm @@-ing you :)! Sona's advice makes sense to me; 50 seems late to screen for this increasingly prevalent disease?

It is true that in young breasts (under 50), dense tissue affects the mammogram. But at my last mammogram, the doc followed up with an ultrasound, which increases sensitivity; it was really interesting to see the breast tissue and ducts, and underarm lymph nodes. Plus, I felt assured in being able to watch for myself.

Well done, all you up-to-date YLFers :).

No Lynn, there is no specific reason for me to put radiation into my breasts, so I'd rather stick to the current advise of starting at 50. I am pretty familiar with my breasts from breastfeeding from 30-42 years. That in its own gives me some protection, although as ever: no guarantees are given. I found some information in your language: http://www.medicalnewstoday.co.....171120.php (the advice is level B, not C) and the source: http://www.uspreventiveservice.....psbrca.htm

Here are two Susan Komen links about how to make sense of the mammography debate:

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCan.....ebate.html

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCan.....tions.html

Alicat, thank you for link !

It reminded me of a debate that I heard not too long ago on this very issue. What really strikes me is that the factors leading to some of these decisions are statistical. And statistics are great and very helpful. But I also believe that I am not a statistic. I am either going to be 0% or 100% of something. So I cringe a bit when I read and/or hear that the overall survival rate is not impacted enough to recommend earlier screenings. One woman testing positive and surviving out of 100,000 women who were negative is statistically "insignificant." But to me and my family and friends it is HUGELY significant, because it was me.

This is true of any cancer - it is true for Lynne, because it is her husband.

In the end, it is a personal decision. I suppose all I can say is don't let pain, inconvenience, fear, or lack of money stop you. ( Where I live, ANYONE who wants a mammogram can have one regardless of their ability to pay. Though I know that is not true everywhere. )

Heleen, of course this is your personal decision. Namaste. :).

Ali, thank you for the links, it's good to find good resources like this.

Isabel, as usual your writing is full of wisdom. You are so right about statistics. If you are talking from the point of view of a public health provider, the statistics are invaluable. But at an individual level, we are talking yes or no. And that is what has happened to DH; he has no FH, and is the wrong demographic for cancer. So statistically, he didn't come up on anyone's radar. Even we didn't suspect. But that doesn't change where we're at now. But that is not the reason I posted this reminder; it's because this community means a lot of me, even though I don't know you all IRL, and I want those around me to care for themselves, as they see best.

Bless, L xox

I'm too young for my mammogram (no family hx - yay!).

I had an interesting description of a mammogram from a patient once ... "You mean the test where they squish my breast in between two metal pieces? It was fine. It felt ... squishy."

ETA: For us youngin's ... there are other tests besides mammography if you are concerned I had ultrasound guided core biopsy for my lumps when I was 17. Now I have one boob. My other is lucky; it gets more attention? LOL.

Lyn(onSYC) , I am so sorry that that happened to you. What a terrible thing to deal with at any age, especially 17 !!

Lyn, you are just such a great person to the core ! Hey, someone has to look out for us !

Alicat, I re-read what I wrote and I hope it didn't come off as criticizing your link. I LOVED the link, they are great guidelines and it is all we have to follow - the link is also good at explaining why those recommendations are so. And, at least for me, that also helps me reach a decision. The medical profession is in a tough spot.

Stay healthy !!!

Isabel, not to worry, I didn't take your comment the wrong way at all! : )

Tick.

Check! Had it done in July!

The UK doesn't routinely screen until women are a certain age, 50's I think? I do get the dreaded smear test done every 3 years though x

For women with no insurance, please talk to your local health department. I am not sure how common this is, but we offer free yearly exams including routine mammograms at mine.

Soon-to-be Dr Lyn, thank-you for chiming in, and I am sorry you had to deal with this when you were so young. You are right about mammograms; I probably should have used the word breast screening, to cover whatever protocol is appropriate. I would add 'painfully' to the front of 'squishy' :).

Anette, thanks for this information, it's great to know.

Had one at 24 when we found my fibroadenoma; I'll be 29 next month, none since. Up
to date on my BSEs though! (Bertha the fibroadenoma is unchanged, thank goodness.)

Also, I am uninsured, but there is a county sliding scale clinic where I go for health care and I love the doctors and nurses there. It's worth it to look into those kinds of solutions if you are uninsured; I resisted it for a while thinking it would be a lower standard of care or that they wouldn't treat me well, and I'm sure in some places that may be the case, but there are options and it's worth your time to find out.