Tuesday 25 September 2012

Check Your Boobs! or not...

I know, I'm late.  I didn't remind you in August, and I'm late this month.  Sorry, but I think I'm going to move away from the monthly reminders.  You need to get into the habit of checking yourself, and I don't want to just automate a standard reminder.  Plus there is a lot of debate in the medical community about the value of monthly self-examination and regular mammograms.  The argument goes that too many women are being subjected to tests like mammograms and biopsies for benign breast lumps, plus some tumours are not detectable through touch or even mammogram.  Did you know that mammograms have limited usefulness on dense breasts?  And most young women have dense breasts, some not so young women too.

There are different views.  Is the invasive nature of a biopsy too high a price to pay for a negative test result?  Is it a waste of your worry and your doctor's time to investigate a lump that is just a cyst and not a tumour?  Or would you rather take every measure possible to identify a cancerous tumour as early as possible?  The scientists seem to be leaning on the side of less testing.  But it's not their breasts.  What do you think? 

1 comment:

  1. I think you need to do what you need to, to ensure you feel safe and at ease. I know I've mentioned this before, but at 16 years old, I found a lump in my left breast and was scared shitless. I had to go for an ultra sound on it and had even had a mammogram scheduled even tho they took one look at me and sent me away due to (just as you said) breast tissue that was too dense. So for 4 years I went and had it checked every 3 months to ensure it wasnt changing in size or position. When I lived in the Sault for college, at the age of 20, the dr I saw there sent me for a needle biopsy of the lump which turned out to be negative.

    It put my mind at ease and since having a child and breast feeding my anatomy has greatly changed and I no longer feel the same spot I did when I was younger.

    It is a personal choice but I say you do what feels right and safe for you. You are your best, and normally only advocate for your health, and if you dont speak up about your needs and fears your doctor wont persue it further unless you request it to be investigated.

    I do hope everyone takes the time to ensure they do what is right for themselves and thier loved ones.

    Best wishes,

    Meghan

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