Regenerative Breasts and a Friend’s Mammogram

By Trish, on November 29th, 2010%

I had my first mammogram a few weeks ago and I got the call AND letter, make that two letters now that I have to go back for more pics. The woman who called from the doctor’s office said the images were incomplete. The letters sound much more ominous. Well, I couldn’t get in for mammo #2 for two months so there must not be too much concern.

I’m guessing the listing of three ages for my mom having breast cancer and the two ages for my grandma, may make the radiologist think they should get a couple more pics – which I can appreciate.

My friend who lives in Minneapolis discovered a  lump on Wednesday morning. She was able to get into the doc that day. Doc told her great job for detecting it and scheduled her for a mammo and ultrasound for today. My friend already had both images taken and the results read. She’s free and clear. Yay! They can’t explain that lump that is no longer there that the doc felt… but they told her if she feels it again, come back. Or come back when you’re 40.

A) that makes me happy and B) Wow, they got her in and read her results right away. I’m jealous.

But on a side note, Wired magazine had a great cover story about Regenerative Breasts last month. I guess it’s difficult for plastic surgeons to reconstruct breasts from current tissue. It’s hard to get breasts to match if one has an implant and another has real tissue. Also, a number of young women with the BRCA gene are opting to get their breasts removed ahead of their 75 percent increased chance for breast cancer, then get reconstruction.

Researchers have found that our body fat contains stem cells, with the help of blood, can create new tissue – a la breasts. I highly recommend the article. My mom did not want implants, but her oncologist convinced her. She had to have multiple surgeries over a year b/c her body would not accept them. My grew up seeing my grandma’s scar across her chest. She only put in her “breasts” on Sunday for church. I hope I never have to make that decision, but I’m thinking I’m leaning toward grandma’s route. What would you do?

Wired cover story - November

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My First Mammogram

By Trish, on November 11th, 2010%

They say to get your first mammogram after the age of 40 or 10 years before your mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer… the latter is why I had my first mammogram today.

I’ve heard all sorts of horrible things about mammograms. They hurt your breasts because your smooshed for so long so hard. I’ve heard the thing that presses your breast is so cold its unbearable. I have no idea what anyone was talking about. I’ll take a mammogram any day of the week over dental x-rays. You know where they jab a piece of cardboard in your gum and your teeth and it just digs and your eyes start to water and you start to gag and they do it four time… yea, a mammogram is not nearly that bad.

The radiography technician was great trying to get things adjusted. Although I’m a 32C, she didn’t have much to work with. Once they have you adjusted, you have to hold your breath and not move.

It takes more than six months to get a mammogram in downtown Chicago at Northwestern, but I went to the Bucktown location and was in in less than a month, plus free parking!

Now I wait five days for a letter. The letter will either say A-ok or come back, we need to take a few more images. I’m hoping for the A-Ok of course. This was just a baseline, so the tech made sure to tell me not to freak out if I have to come in for more images, they just have nothing to compare to.

And you know all those signs about digital mammography and how it’s so much better? It has nothing to do with you when you get a mammogram – it doesn’t make it easier. All it does is provide images digitally instead of those x-ray screen things. Wow. Welcome to the 21st century.

But again, if you need to get a mammogram – get one scheduled, it takes time and it’s not that bad. It’s worth it.

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