The Mammogram PSA

Well it's that time of year. Time to get my breasts smashed and pulled like the radiologists are making beach taffy out of my torso. I have now been having annual mammograms for so many years I have lost count, after my first benign lump was discovered in my early 20s. It's fine. I don't really hate it all that much. The process is quick. The imaging technicians are lovely. It's just weird.

Recently the robes (open to the front, of course) are now not even full size. They are like crop wraps. Are they trying to be on trend? Today at a store, I picked up a long-sleeved cropped button down shirt for my 15 year old daughter and had a flash of PTSD thinking of the new mammogram style. "Is this cute for you?" I asked. "Or does it say 'medical procedure' to you?" She looked at me like I had three heads. She bought the shirt, so I guess mammogram chic is all the rage. 

I write about it each year because it is easy. And it is quick. And it does save lives. Every year while I wait in the lobby to be called back for the four simple pictures (2-second smash from the top, one from the side, change breasts, repeat, done), I witness someone come in and cancel their appointment they are about to have. They are already in the office. But, oh, something has just come up. No, they don't want to reschedule because they have travel coming up and need to check the schedule and don't know if they can get a ride and their car has been acting up and can they just call back when they are ready? The schedulers always remind them that they are ALREADY THERE. It will only take a couple of minutes. "Thanks but I have to go..." as they walk out backwards. It's fear. Nobody wants to be at a doctor's office. Nobody wants a potential bad diagnosis. But isn't a bad diagnosis you can potentially do something about better than a bad diagnosis once it's too late?

In about a year, I'll bring it up again. Cheers to health and wellness and prevention!