We never quite take them seriously, which we should, medically I mean. After all, we love how women envy another 'nice' pair of boobs and men simply love boobs. Well, most men that I know anyway.
It's a must to go for an annual mammogram (after 40 especially) and ultrasound scan. I must admit that I do not make it my priority, and do it as the last thing on my list. (Bad bad girl).Which for me is like playing with the devil as my mom was dignosed with breast cancer just three years ago. She's completely cured, thank God for that, however, she has to visit the hospital for her regular check-ups.
So I shouldn't be playing with the devil. Some things I really don't have an answer for. Maybe I'm just a coward and don't want to know. Just ignore the problem, Which translates to stupidity. Because the whole boob day process just takes about 2-3 hours.
The process of the mammogram is quick though a tad uncomfortable. The nurse helps you to place each boob at a time on a plate (while you're standing) and it's squashed for like a few seconds, from the top and another from the side. So two angles on each breast, and you are done.
Then off to do the ultrasound scan, which is more painful for me, as I have an army of lumps and cysts, common in the type of fibrocystic breast tissue kind of breasts that I happen to have. They come and they go, some stay and hurt a bit more prior to my menses. And God forbid if, like me, you love your daily coffee because it doesn't help with the discomfort.
Sorry for the digressing bit, yes, the ultrasound process is longer -- some gel is applied on each breast, and then the breast is scanned -- every cm of it. Any bumps, lumps or cysts are detected by the machine and shown on the computer screen in front of the doctor. Just by looking at the type of shape and density of the lump, the doctor can more or less, tell you if it's a cyst or something suspicious.
The results of both tests come in films and are sent to my breast surgeon. Then it's consultation time.It's great if like me, you have a friendly and patient doctor. Because I really can get annoying with the questions that I ask. But I rather not be shy so when I leave the doctor's office I can feel a burden off my shoulders, and happy... all ready to go out and celebrate with a mojito. I really don't think much about it till a year later. Or, when my boyfriend discovers a lump and asks me about it. Then it's back to black, worrying days until I visit my doctor again!