Not an "After School Special"

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and you generally see everyone showing their support by sporting pink in there attire and supporting this worthy cause.  I have been very fortunate since only one person in my family has been struck by this deadly disease.  My grandmother's sister died of the disease in the 1940's mostly due to limited access and resources in Alabama.  Unfortunately, ALL of the  children born from that mother have suffered with some sort of cancer moment and most have passed.  While that seems pretty close in relation to me, most doctor's don't consider these occurrences as a risk factor.  So based on that, I scheduled my first mammogram this year since I just reached the tender age of 40!

I went into my mammogram with severe trepidation.  Now, no lumps had ever been found in my breasts but it was rather surreal walking into Washington Radiology Center in Chevy Chase.  It felt a little like a really bad "after school special".  Of course, the ramifications were far more serious then a broken heart or a bad case of acne should the films come back poorly.  I found myself looking around the room at the other patients thinking is this routine for them or are there more serious problems like a lump or shadow showing up on the films.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with this deadly disease this year? Additionally, women of color tend to contract certain forms breast cancer that are resistant to many courses of cancer treatment.  Knowing this, many women still fail to take measures to protect themselves my getting mammograms or doing monthly self exams.

Lord knows, I really don't want to hear anymore bad news but how dare I even consider not taking care of myself when my kids need a mama!

So I walk in and nurse squeezes my breast down to about two inches tall and tells me to hold still and not breath.  (To be honest, it felt like the Jolly Green Giant was stepping on my boob) Trust me, I wasn't breathing.  Then the nurse says, "well you may have to come back because there is some scar tissue and doctors will have to review that".  Well, I am like OMG she must have seen a lump and doesn't  want to tell me... So I left the appointment nervous and paranoid.

As it turns out, my film was clean with no signs of cancer and I did a little dance not just because it was clean but because I felt like I was in charge of my own health and I had done something for my family.

So next year, when it becomes time for my yearly exam, I will gladly welcome "the giant to step on my boob" and keep it moving!