Conference turris::womannotes-v1

   I was told that mammograms hurt very much.... Has anyone had them
    that can tell me what it does feel like?????...plus what to expect,
    etc????
    
    G

    I found no discomfort at all. It was more awkward than uncomfortable.
    

    
    No discomfort.  Easier than having blood drawn.
    
    alison
    

    Mammograms do not hurt at all!  Just be sure to bring your sense
    of humor....the technician does each breast singly, pressing
    it between two plates, and taking three "views" of each.  It is
    a bit of a strain between when she has placed the second plate and
    when she had flicked the button that takes the x-ray-like picture,
    but it's not pain.  Try to schedule your mammogram early in your
    monthly cycle, so that your water retention is low.
    
    I asked to see mine, and while the technician explained that it
    wasn't the usual policy, she did bring them out when they were
    developed and put them up against the light box.  They were real
    3-D pictures, the outline of a breast with all the little blood
    vessels and connective tissues.  
    
    Good luck!
    
    						- Dotsie

    That's interesting.  More than once, I've read that the exam is
    excruciatingly painful, but worth it.  I have heard that the time
    of month makes some difference, though.  Glad to hear so may people
    say it doesn't hurt.  From the reports, I've been glad I could
    afford to wait a few years until the technology improved.
                                                     

    the last i read about mammograms was that it was unclear whether
    they were effective; statistically, if you had little probability
    that you had a problem, it wasn't worth exposing yourself to the
    radiation.
    
    has this changed?
    
    	bruce

    One thing I read in a pamphlet from a hospital said to make sure
    you ask when their machine was manufactured.  You want to be tested
    with a machine that is LESS than 10 years old.  
    
    Re. -1, Most health care professionals urge women to receive a baseline
    mammogram when they are 35.  My gynocologist recommended that I
    get one now (26) because there is a history of cysts in my family
    and "some" cancers.  I haven't decided yet.
    
    As Ann Jillian said, "the earlier the detection of cancer in the
    breast tissues, the better the chance of recovery WITHOUT necessary
    losses to the entire breast".  Unfortunately, Ann was too late and
    had both breasts removed.
    
    So, if you can afford it and I feel that we all should, go ahead
    and get a baseline.  And remember, SBE 1 time per month.  
                                                   

    I saw something on this on the Today show a couple of weeks ago.
    The recommendations were (from my fuzzy memory) to get a baseline
    mammogram taken if you were younger than 35, a new one every five
    years until 40, then one every two years afterwards.  If you had
    a history of breast cancer in your family, it was more frequent.
    These recommendations (which I probably have the details wrong about,
    but the idea is there) were from the American Cancer Society.
    
    Indeed, the ACS' opinion is still that the benefits outweigh the
    risks.
    					Steve

    Re:  Are mammograms effective?
    
    A friend of mine had a mammogram last summer because she was 35
    or so and there was a history of breast cancer in the family.  It
    was to be a baseline for comparisons against future changes in the
    breast tissue.  What it showed was that a growth was already present.
    A biopsy confirmed that it was cancerous.  Because of early detection,
    however, she was able to avoid a complete masectomy (sp?) and she
    didn't need chemotherapy.  She's a spunky person and is doing fine.
    
    					- Dotsie

    I had my second mammogram yesterday.  I hadn't realized what this
    conversation about pain related to until then.  My first was ab-
    solutely painless, but it was a different type of x-ray.  I was
    on my back and the technician manipulated equipment.  This was two
    years ago.
    
    Yesterday's experience was a bit different and gave me an under-
    standing of the conversation about pain.  About three shots had
    to be repeated after the initial four...all on the same breast.
    The compression was "almost" to tight until the last one, where
    it was clearly very tight and slightly painful.  However, it was
    certainly bearable and the techincian's caring attitude helped.
    It's only a few seconds and like everyone says...it is worth it.
                                  
    Inez
      
    
    ,
    I was in a standing position

    I just had a mammagram today (my husband calls it a "mammalgram")
    at the Brigham & Woman's Breast Imaging center. There was no pain
    at all, not even any discomfort.  The technician was VERY gentle
    and supportive, showed me the Xrays afterwards.  The whole thing
    took less than a hour, including some waiting in the lobby before
    hand.  Their equipment is exactly 1 year old and, according to
    the technician, uses the lowest dose of radiation of any equipment
    available.  
    
    The mammagram was arranged through the Am. Cancer Soc'y special
    May program and cost $50.  I don't know if you can still sign up,
    but I had no trouble making the appointment (there are about 50
    hospitals participating in this program).
                      
    I would wholeheartedly recommend this center for mammagrams.
    	S.
    

    First my background. I was a registered radiation therapist and
    a registered x-ray tech. I worked in the field for 7 years. For
    over two years I was at Presbterian Medical Center in Denver (one
    of the largest radiation therapy centers in the country). I did
    quite a few mamograms along with other screening tests. I don't
    remember ever having someone say it was painful. What was being
    used to compress your breast. I just placed the breast on the film
    and shot the picture, there was no second piece used to press the
    breast flat. 
    
    On to theories. At Pres the doctors used momograms but had many
    reservations. The radiation (remember this was in the early 70's
    so things may have changed) was considered a possible irritant that
    could possibly CAUSE cancer and they did not recomend routine mamograms
    without having other indications such as family history or lumps
    present. We also use thermograms but they were experimental.
    
    Not to depress those of you who may be affected but the cure rate
    for cancer is judged by who lives 5 years without a relapse. If
    you get a new cancer at 5 years and one day you are still part of
    those listed as cured. I saw many people return after the first
    five years. I watched people die a miserable painful day at time
    until I left work every day in tears. That's one of the reasons
    I quit.
    
     Some forms of cancer CAN be cured and many can be held at
    bay for years but the overall survival rate has not improved for
    many years. Unfortunately the American Cancer Society does lie somewhat
    with statistics. 
    
    
    One thing I did learn however was this,those who fought back and
    refused to give in live longer and were more likely to beat the
    odds than those who accepted the disease. I don't mean deny you
    have cancer but don't give in to it. For those who are interested
    Elizabeth Kubler Ross has a book "On Death and Dying" that sheds
    a lot of light on how we treat those with deadly illnesses and what
    they go through. In my training we had to read this book and then
    role play both the patient and the family as well as the health
    care worker. It was enlightening. liesl  

    Today I went and had my frist mammogram. We live in a small town
    so the technician was a woman I had known for 8 years. While she
    set me up we talked about our sons graduating from high school and
    our daughters going into 9th grade. She made me feel very relaxed,
    and not at alembarassed. She was very mater-of-fact and explained
    every step in detail. It was slightly uncomfortable but did not
    hurt - she told me to tell her when the pressure of the upper device
    started to pinch. I am just a tiny bit sore up near my arm pits
    if I think about it. I would urge anyone - especially those in the
    over 40 group - to go have the exam if you haven't done it yet.
    
    Bonnie J

    my mother recently discovered a lump in her breast. it turned out
    to be only a cyst, and her surgeon suggested she get a mammogram 
    (just to be safe). her pictures revealed a teeny lump, which turns
    out to be cancerous. she's having the lump removed next week and
    will have radiation treatment for a while. the projected recurrence
    rate for this set of procedures is 5% (pretty good...). the amazing
    thing is that her doc said it would have been TWO YEARS before she
    could feel the lump herself. he couldn't even feel it when he knew
    where it was, and had to go by the picture to find it. she strongly
    feels that the mammogram saved her life, and i hope she's right...
    
    liz

    
    Make sure your doctor takes breast problems seriously!  My old
    doctor had me have a base line mammogram for each breast in 1986,
    because of fibrocystic disease, and family history of breast cancer.
    He did not think I needed another one done til I was 30 - 35 or
    so (I'm 25 now).
    
    My new doctor is with a clinic that is strictly for women.  She
    just had me have a complete mammogram done for each breast (2 x-rays
    for each), and is going to have me getting this done at least 1
    a year for now.
    
    I have severe fibrocystic disease, and have a large mass of it in
    my right breast, that needs to be watched carefully.  My mom had
    breast cancer, and has fibrocystic disease in her remaining breast
    - pretty bad too, they though she would need surgery, but it seems
    to have improved.  My grandmother (maternal) died of terminal cancer.
    
    I'm so glad that my present doctor shows so much concern!  Many
    doctors think that if you are in your 20's, you don't have to worry
    about this stuff - "you're still to young to be concerned about...".
          
    She is even having me see a breast specialist, just to have his
    opinion.
    
    Please be careful!!!!  If you don't think your present doctor shows
    enough concern, find another one!  There is no age to start being
    careful for this stuff!
    
    Because of my fibrocystic problems, the mammograms did hurt
    a bit.  It is definitly worth the few seconds of pain - just think
    of how much pain you would have to go through if you got cancer!
    
    Sorry to ramble on, but I just don't want to see anyone get cancer
    that could have easily been prevented, or caught early enough! 
    My mom had a breast removed for cancer about 15 years ago.  She
    is now 66, and walks about 3 miles a day - she is totally disgustingly
    healthy! (-:
    
    
    Bye!
    
    Corinne
    
    
    The only reason I'm not having to get surgery to remove the large
    mass in my right breast, is that it has not changed much in size/shape,
    and the doctor can't find anything abnormal (besides the fibrocystic
    des.).

    re .16
    
    Corinne,
    
    	I had cystic breasts (I'm not sure if that's the same as
    "fibrocystic disease") until two years ago, when I stopped drinking
    coffee and soda that contains caffeine.
    
    	My doctor had recommended that I cut out the caffeine, but she
    didn't tell me why.  So, I was pleasantly surprised when all the
    little lumps (and one large mass) gradually disappeared.
    
    	Hope this might help you too,
    
    			Pilar

    	Stopping the caffeine didn't work for me,  I haven't had any
    for at least a couple of years, no change.  Thanks for the concern,
    though.
    
    	Bye!
    
    	Corinne