Life Saving Mammograms: A First Hand Account

A woman never forgets her first time. I'll admit it. I was nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect. My other girlfriends said that it hurt, so I was a little scared. They also said the first time is over pretty quickly. I took a deep breath and braced myself for the pain.

The pain never came. Sure, it was uncomfortable having my first mammogram, but it didn't hurt like I expected. The worst part was to be naked in front of a complete stranger who had to touch my breast to move it around on the machine.

I watched slightly fascinated while the plastic plate squashed my breast flat. I wondered what they did for women with bigger breasts. Did the machine have extensions they could pull out like wings?

The mammogram was over in less than fifteen minutes. They took three x-rays of each breast. Since I hadn't had any problems, this mammogram was preliminary only. It would serve as a baseline for future mammograms when I turn forty.

The radiologist warned me that with the digital mammogram, they get a very clear picture, so if I get a call telling me they have seen something, don't panic. They do sometimes get false positives.

My OB/GYN had actually given me the referral for a mammogram on my thirty-fifth birthday. I would have preferred flowers. I planned on going, I really did, but life got in the way.

When I went back to see him a year later, I still had not gone for the mammogram. He educated me on why it was so important to have it done now. It gives the doctors a record of what my breasts were like when they were healthy.

He told me one in seven women will have breast cancer in some form in their lives. I was at increased risk for it because of a family history of cancer. He also said that mammograms can increase your survival rate by 25 to 30 percent or more.

Properly chastised, I agreed to get a mammogram soon. My intentions were good, but I was scared because I had heard mammograms were painful. I put it off for a few months, until a friend mentioned her family history of breast cancer. She said she had a mammogram and it didn't hurt.

I trusted her and decided to make my mammogram appointment. Standing there in my lovely paper gown while the radiologist hoisted my breast onto the x-ray plate was uncomfortable. But after going through child birth and breast feeding, it's hard to be embarrassed anymore.

She lowered the plastic plate until my breast was properly compressed. She then hit a button and took the x-ray. One x-ray took just a minute or two. Once finished, she freed my breast from its prison. That was it. That was all. Nothing scary, no pain.

I was surprised. I had thought the plates would flatten my breast like a pancake. I had also envisioned it to be like a blood pressure cuff, with the plastic plates squeezing tighter and tighter until I felt pain. It was none of these.

Why was I so worried? I had natural labor, I scoff at pain. Yet I was afraid to have a mammogram. I now know there is no reason to be afraid of a mammogram.

It took a friend's reassurance to help me conquer my mammogram fear and get this life saving test. After having it done, I decided I needed to tell other women.

One in seven women will get breast cancer. If I can convince seven women to swallow their fear and make that appointment, I can possibly save a life. October is breast cancer awareness month. Stop procrastinating and join the fight against breast cancer today. Have you had your mammogram yet?