The bOOb Lady’s Blog

What woman likes to get a mammogram? It’s a procedure few of us relish:  a stranger pokes and pulls, and finally squishes each of our breasts between two hard plates of plastic. We may find it painful, uncomfortable, or simply annoying. Standing half-naked in an overly chilled room (best for the equipment), our arm is positioned at some oddly tortuous, unnatural angle, while we watch the equipment flatten us like pancakes. We’re then asked to “please, hold your breath.” Let’s face it, this is no way to treat our “girls.”
The American Cancer Society recommends all 40+ gals get a mammogram at least once a year. Why? As we get older, our risk of breast cancer rises. Mammograms detect between 80%-90% of all breast cancers up to two years before a woman can even feel a lump. It’s the best breast check-up, so how can we make this annual experience a bit more pleasant? 

First, make a date with a girlfriend. Schedule your mammograms on the same day and you’ll have someone to laugh with over the outdated magazines in the waiting room, or those stylish gowns they make you wear. Then, if either of you get a “call back” (the second exams technicians often need for more dense breasts); you’ve got some moral support during the wait for results. 

Second, if you’ve shied away from getting your girls smooshed because you find it too uncomfortable, help is out there!  Try the Woman’s Touch MammoPad™. This foam pad, developed by a female surgeon, fits directly onto the mammography machine. MammoPads are FDA approved and provide a soft cushion between your breast and the imaging plate. I tried one at my last mammogram, and found its warmth and softness especially helpful when asked to lean forward into the hard edge of the equipment. The one-time use, throw-away pad runs about $5.00. Check out their website to see if imaging centers in your area carry this product. If not, you can call or order one online for your next appointment.

Remember:  don’t avoid life-saving mammograms. Make it a boob-friendly day. Afterward, you can dress your breasts in good health at your fave lingerie store, or celebrate in style at a girls-only lunch. Being good to your girls should be fun and rewarding! 
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This entry was posted on Monday, September 4th, 2006 at 6:55 pm and is filed under Breast Cancer, Breast Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.