Today I'm going to have a mammogram. In Sweden, you get them every other year, from you're 40 til you're 74. It's free, which is such a blessing! Just thought I'd share this, as a friendly reminder to you all. Early detection can save lifes!
Great reminder Eva! Good job getting yourself checked regularly. I’m glad it’s free too; that’s definitely a blessing.
I hate those but I do go every time too. I had a (in hindsight little) scare once and had to do another one and it was just fat but I'm glad they asked to get a doctor to check (first go it was just the technician at the machine taking the pictures but they send the results to an hospital for consult) even though it's painful to have your boobs crushed one more time.
I love all the free preventative care I can get! Just did mine in the fall. I'm due for a colonoscopy, too! Also free!
Yeah, here in the Netherlands too. It's a shame it stops at the age of 74/75. When I look at my mom....she was cancer-free during those mammogram checks. Four years later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 4, and passed away a year and a half later.
I've had three done, definitely NOT free. The dr gave me quite a scare when I found a lump, only to find out it was a cyst and nothing to worry about. They suggested I go back every 6 months for another mammogram and to drain the cyst again. I think not. Especially since I have racked up a huge bill with health insurance. I don't understand why preventive care isn't free here in the U.S. even though they claim it is.
I get mine regularly too (I'm covered for annually). I admire the techs who have it down to a perfect science and get you in and out in 5 minutes! ... I'm also using this as an opportunity to promote people getting colonscopies. My FIL passed away from colon cancer last month. I know the prep stinks, but colon cancer is slow moving and usually quite treatable when caught on a routine colonscopy.
I'm sorry for your loss, Sheri! I've lost relatives to colon cancer so I'm paranoid about it and have had regular colonoscopies. Just had my mammo a couple months ago too. Definitely important to get checked regularly.
Thank you Dawn! Good for you for being proactive. It's a long story, but I have a half brother who I never met who passed away from colon cancer in his 30's. As soon as I found that out, I prioritized getting in for a colonoscopy. I had several polyps removed (which I know is quite normal), of which one was the type that could turn into C. Katie Couric was recently a speaker for Women's History Month at my place of employment and she's been a huge advocate of colonoscopies follwing the death of her first husband who passed away from colon cancer when their kids were small. She talked about the documentary she did many years ago on the importance of getting a colonoscopy. It's pretty amazing that the US saw a 30% increase in amercians seeking out the procedure after it aired. I have so much respect for her ability to evagelize the importance of prevenative care! (on a side note, it was also fun that one of my collegaues was the one to interview her - I don't think I could have endured the stress of interviewing Katie who is the queen of interviews!).
