Abnormal Mammogram: My Baseline Screening at 40.

What to Expect: We’ll explore getting your baseline mammogram and what happens if you have an abnormal mammogram.

You’ve spent your whole life using your boobs to look good in tight t-shirts, lure men, and feed babies. Then, 40 comes along. What the heck — someone wants to squish them and take some ugly black and whites of them? Getting your first mammogram can be a little scary. My baseline was an abnormal mammogram and I really wanted to write up a post about my journey and how it all went.

First off, you should be getting your lady parts checked up each year. This includes annual mammograms.

Even if you don’t need a pap smear (they keep changing the rules for those in a monogamous relationship), you still need to check your uterus and ovaries. Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. Yes, the exam is uncomfortable (that’s the one where their hand is inside and they press on your belly) — which is when they’re feeling your ovaries. But worth it.

Side note: My exam, this time, was done by a newbie resident. She came into the room for my check-up and I told her I’d be happy to have her do my pap and exam. I got the sense she hadn’t used a speculum much. But, always be open to having a resident perform exams on you! They have to learn some way. Sadly, I could tell her exactly how she was using the speculum wrong. Somehow I’ve turned into that woman. 🙂

Anyway, at that same check-up, my doctor ordered a baseline screening mammogram. Be sure that your health care provider writes “screening” on it so that your insurance is likely to cover it. Obamacare in the United States (as it stands now — in September of 2016) requires coverage of SCREENING mammograms, but not diagnostic mammography. That will come into play later on.

After our forever-long summer trip, I scheduled my first screening mammogram with the radiology clinic. I was set to go after a 4-hour computer training at work — which, I think is actually against the Geneva Convention, but I digress. The place is right next to my work and I really love to consolidate my time.

I went in, and checked in. They had nice gowns and a place to store your valuables while you get it done. They did let me take my phone back with me.

Hence, the sweet Instagram shots. 🙂 #pullingcurlsgetsamammogram

{side note : There was LITERALLY A haboob (dust storm) at the time I walked in. Is that a good or a bad sign:?}

You put your boob as noted in this fine photo:

The mammography technologist places your breast, as well as your arms just how they need them, then they tell you not to breathe and take the breast images. I would guess that each picture takes less than 30 seconds of total squishing time.

Frankly, it did not hurt at all.

Uncomfortable, yes. Painful. Not at all.

My kids have done WAY worse things to my breasts than a routine breast cancer screening. Not to mention the sag they created. 🙂

** I will say that if you’re at the wrong point in your menstrual cycle where your breasts are exceptionally tender, I would re-schedule. I tend to only have 1-2 days of that, and otherwise, I think I’d be fine.

But, I also know women who say it is the most painful thing they’ve ever experienced. I would, personally, put a pap smear as WAY more painful.

Anyway, they take shots of each side. They also put a little marker on my right breast so the radiologist can tell which is the right and which is the left breast.

Then, you’re done.

At my clinic, I was able to get my results if I was willing to wait a few minutes.

Sadly, I got the results that they didn’t like my pictures and they wanted me to come back for additional testing.

In a week.

Abnormal Mammogram: 2nd Shots

Of course, this time, it would be a DIAGNOSTIC mammogram. Aka, my insurance isn’t going to waive my giant deductible for that one. After calling around to about 800 people, I finally decided to let it run through my insurance as I was only going to pay a few dollars less as a cash patient and I would not be able to apply it to my deductible if I did that (and since I was facing possible breast cancer I decided that was best).

Anyway, a week later (after trying to shove all my nerves down) I went back in.

The second process was similar to regular mammograms, but they tilted the table a few different ways (both vertical and horizontal). This mammogram did apply a bit more pressure than my previous mammogram. I found it to be slightly more uncomfortable (but again, not painful). I think they did 3 shots of each boob and these often included more of my armpit than the initial one — likely to check the nodes.

My sweet mammogram tech did show me what they were looking for. While my initial mailed results said I had dense breasts tissue, I actually had possible calcifications (or possibly the beginnings of cancer — which is why I had to get the second one). They are SUPER small white dots, and mine were on both sides, right behind my nipple. You can read up a lot on calcifications and how they decide if they’re OK.

They initially said I would likely need an ultrasound after the 2nd mammogram, but the tech said that they don’t do ultrasounds for calcifications. The 2nd mammogram would show if it was benign or the next step would be a biopsy {heart drop}.

The good news is that mine came out fine. I’m supposed to get a follow-up in 6 months instead of the regular yearly mammograms. Yay.

The other good news is that this is my baseline mammographic screening. In future mammograms they’ll already have the diagnostic one to show if they are increasing in number/size, etc. Since I had never had one before this, it was important that I have the baseline mammography.

Mammogram Tips:

1.  Wear a two piece outfit. You’re able to keep your pants/skirt, etc — but I was sort of surprised by all the women wearing a dress, I bet it makes it more awkward for the tech as they have to really adjust your body to get in the right position.
2. Check your family history. I knew that my mom had issues with calcifications before, so when mine came back with it, I was less concerned (but I won’t lie that I didn’t have SOME concern). If you have a strong family history of breast cancer you may need to have mammograms at an earlier age.
3. Talk to friends, find out their experience. My friend, Dani, also had the exact same thing happen to her a few months earlier so it was really nice to have already heard her story.
4. Again, make sure your healthcare provider bills it as a SCREENING mammography instead of diagnostic imaging. Of course, if your provider has found a lump or you have odd breast pain then it would be a diagnostic one. But a routine mammogram should be billed as a screening one.
5. Baseline screening at 40. If you don’t have a family history of younger women with a breast cancer diagnosis,and you’re in good health you shouldn’t need an earlier screening. Typically annual screening mammograms begin at the age of 40. Just go get it done, your family will thank you for it!

Anyway, now it’s done and off my plate for a few months. It feels so good to get something like this done!

Annual screenings don’t replace breast self-exams. Self-exams are one of the best early detection of breast cancer.

Know that needing further testing is common. It’s hard to stay calm but try to and make sure you get back in as soon as possible to reduce the stress.

If you have breast implants make sure you let them know when you schedule your appointment.

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