Ladies, I turned 40 last year. And you know what that means, right? After my annual check-up, I was instructed to schedule my first mammogram. Not exactly the birthday gift I had in mind! If you’re feeling apprehensive about it, much like a teenager dreading her first visit to the gynecologist, let me ease your mind: it’s really no biggie—just five minutes in and out; honestly, it’s way less stressful than a dentist appointment and even easier than a pap smear. I’d take a mammogram over a long DMV wait any day!
Before heading in, I was told to avoid antiperspirant or deodorant. Of course, this was also the morning I had agreed to chat with a radio station about an article I’d written, so I nervously sweated my way through that before driving my damp self to the breast center. (For the record, I’d rather get a mammogram than be interviewed on the radio. No contest between awkward questions and X-ray photos of my breasts!)
Once I donned the little hospital gown (“Open in the front,” they said), a nurse led me to the radiology room. In a world filled with pocket-sized smartphones, the mammography machine looked gigantic. It’s tall and bulky, occupying a lot of space, but the part that does the work—the breast section—is about the size of a George Foreman Grill. Remember that? The cooking appliance from the ‘90s that squished food to drain fat? The concept is similar for a mammogram, except it doesn’t cook your breast. There is squishing involved, though. As you stand at the machine, the nurse expertly positions your breast for optimal squishage (men, this part isn’t for you!). Then, she brings down the flat piece—the “lid”—which compresses and clicks to take X-rays. And yes, there’s compression, but pain? Not really.
Fortunately, the nurse forewarned me that many first-timers receive a letter asking them to schedule a follow-up, often due to “dense breasts.” This means our fabulous 40-year-old breasts are so full that it can be tricky to spot any concerning shadows or spots in all that lovely tissue. (I’ll take a compliment wherever I can find one!)
Naturally, I received a follow-up letter, and after another round of mammogram X-rays—which felt a bit more intense—and a completely painless ultrasound, my “suspicious” spot was confirmed to be normal breast tissue. I’m healthy!
Many of us get the all-clear after our mammograms. However, there has been some debate about whether women in their forties need them at all. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently suggested that for most women in their forties, mammograms may not significantly reduce breast cancer mortality, implying we might be able to skip them.
But I don’t have any risk factors, like close family with breast cancer or the BRCA gene mutation, so why did I go ahead? For starters, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology still recommend mammograms for women in their forties. My midwife suggests starting at age 40 too. (Yes, midwives care for women who aren’t pregnant.) Plus, my hospital—the Cleveland Clinic, one of the best in the country—also advises annual mammograms starting at 40. Invasive breast cancers still occur in 1 in 69 women in their forties, and most of those women lack a family history of breast cancer. Also, my health insurance fully covers routine annual mammograms at this age.
I value my preventive care. I get dental X-rays to monitor my teeth’s health, take my kids and myself for annual check-ups, and get my cholesterol and routine blood work checked. I believe in being proactive about my health.
So, I’m all for a little inconvenience and a bit of squishing. While some might say that 40 is “young” for a mammogram, I intend to keep myself (and my breasts) healthy for many years to come. After all, what’s a bit of squishing when it comes to taking care of ourselves? If you’re curious about home insemination options, you can find more information on this helpful link, and for those looking into artificial insemination kits, check out this authority source. Also, the CDC offers excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
Getting your first mammogram can seem daunting, but it’s a quick and relatively painless process. Many health organizations recommend starting mammograms at age 40, even if you don’t have risk factors. Prioritizing preventive care is essential for maintaining health.