Ronnie: My maternal grandmother died of breast cancer. My doctor told me that I should start getting mammograms when I turned 40. But my first cousin’s doctor told her that she should start at age 35? What age should women start getting mammograms?
Dr. Saint Louis: From 40 to 50, women should get mammograms every two years. And after 50, women should get them yearly. The only time that this recommendation changes is if you have a first degree relative (like your sister or your mother) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. If your mother had breast cancer pre-menopausal (before the age of 50) then the recommendation is for you to start getting screened 10 years prior to the age that she was diagnosed.
So for instance, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. So I started to get my mammograms at the age of 27.
Ronnie: This next question is not necessarily about a myth. But my friend told me that it is not uncommon for women to be asked to re-do their exams. My doctor did not prepare me for this reality. And I think that if I would have been asked to re-do my exam, that I would have assumed that something was wrong….I would have been so worried. So, is it common to be asked to re-do your exam?
Dr. Saint Louis: It’s very common and women should not be concerned. When you go to your exam, the person that is doing your mammogram is a Radiology Technician. They will take a picture and they will take a quick look at the picture to see if there is anything grossly abnormal. If they see anything grossly abnormal, then they would call the Radiologist on the spot and the radiologist would come and talk to you. But if they don’t see anything clearly abnormal, they’ll tell you that there is a chance that you may have to come back because the Radiologist will have to look at those films and feel comfortable that he/she sees everything that he/she needs to see in order to say everything is negative. So when they say that you have to come back, more often than not, it just means that until the radiologist takes a look at it and says that it is fine…..they can’t promise you that it is fine.
And then sometimes when they ask you to come back it’s because maybe your breast was not compressed the right way. Or, maybe they missed a little piece of the breast and they can not see that little piece and they just want to make sure that everything is fine. Or maybe there was an area that wasn’t clear and there was just too much interference with the picture…and they just want to repeat the picture to make sure that it’s just interference.
So when women are told that they may have to come back, it’s clearly one of two reasons. Either one, the radiologist has not given it the stamp of approval. So the technician does not want to take the chance of telling you that you’re fine and then something else happens. Or, they just can’t see everything they need to see and they want you to come back for additional views.
Ronnie: Another thing that I was told that concerned me was that it hurt. Will a mammogram exam hurt?
Dr Saint Louis: It is a common myth…I mean if you look at the picture it doesn’t seem pleasant. You’re putting your breast on this plate on this machine. And they’re squeezing the breast. But it depends on what time of the month you go to get your mammogram. So I would recommend that women don’t go get your mammogram the week before your period because your breast are already tender and they’re very lumpy. So don’t go the week before and if you are going to go any time, schedule it for the week after your period when your hormones are at their lowest and it’s when your breast are going to be the least tender.
I think if you have very small breasts or very large breasts, it can be a little more uncomfortable because they have to squeeze a little bit more. This is because it’s an x-ray machine that is taking a picture through the tissue of the breast. And so the bigger the breast, the harder it is for the rays to go through the tissue. And so in those situations they may have to squeeze a little bit more.
So it’s uncomfortable….I wouldn’t say that it is painful. One of the ways to help is to make sure that when you schedule it that its not the week before your period or during your period. Make it the week after. And you can always take some ibuprofen before you get there to help minimize some of the discomfort.
Ronnie: Dr. Saint Louis before you go, is there anything else important that you think women need to know about?
Dr Saint Louis: I think it is important for African American women to realize that breast cancer for black women tends to be diagnosed earlier. So we tend to be younger. And our breast cancer tends to be more aggressive because we are younger and we are still making hormones. So it is really important for women to be consistent about getting their mammograms.
I can’t tell you the number of women that haven’t seen me as a gynecologist in years… (and I ask) but at least you’ve gotten your mammogram? And everybody starts looking on the ground..not wanting to look at me. But it’s really important and I think we lose site of the fact that more black women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their mid-forties . So it is really important for us to be diligent about doing it. We don’t talk about it as much…but it’s really important for us to do it.
And I think it’s important for you to have that conversation with your daughters. Because one day it’s going to be her health that she will need to take care of . And the more that we make it natural and a part of the everyday annual checkup, the less anxiety provoking it becomes as a task.
Thank you Dr. Saint Louis for all that you do in supporting women to live healthier lifestyles and for empowering women to make healthier decisions for themselves, their children, their families. Let’s take Dr. Saint Louis’s advice and talk about mammograms more often with our friends and family members.
Mammogram Monologues
And this is why I was so excited to be chosen by Hanes as one of a few influencers that will help them spread the word about the importance of early detection and encourage women across the country to schedule their mammograms. We will share our experience, “mammogram monologues,” to help demystify mammograms.
Hanes is proud to be partnering with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) for its third consecutive year to help raise awareness of breast cancer and support a cause Hanes’ consumers care so deeply about. As a longtime supporter of breast cancer awareness, Hanes has made cash and in-kind donations totaling over $1 million since 2009. This year Hanes will donate $50,000 to NBCF and will donate an additional $1000 because of my participation in this initiative.
Disclosure: I partnered with Hanes to spread the word about the importance of mammograms. And in return, Hanes will give a $1,000 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation [NBCF] in my name. All opinions in the article are my own. Also, I want to thank Dr. Saint Louis for her information. However, you should always consult your doctor to find out when you should start having mammograms.
Dr. Hedwige Saint Louis, MD, MPH is Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine. She is also the founder of Healthy Mommy, Happy Baby (https://healthymommyhappybaby.com/) a site created to fill the informational and support gap by providing practical solutions and guidance on topics that have the greatest impact on a mother’s quality of life: (1) Health & Wellness, (2) Time Management, (3) Child Development & Education.
Healthy Relationships says
Great article Ronnie. I will definitely pass this along to all the women I know and those that follow me on social media. We need to have more conversations like this to improve the health of our communities.
Ronnie Tyler says
Thanks! I am definitely going to make this a topic that I speak on often.
Christine St. Vil says
Thanks so much for shedding light on this very important matter Ronnie! I definitely heard and believed a lot of these myths, so this has definitely eased my fears in getting my mammogram when it’s time.
Ronnie Tyler says
Christine – after I got my mammogram…I was like..why was I so scared?
Tiya says
Ronnie, this was a much needed reminder for me. I have had my first one, but haven’t had one since. I will schedule my appointment. And you’re right, it doesn’t hurt all that bad at all. We do have to remember it saves lives. Thank you!!!
Ronnie Tyler says
Thanks Tiya…. The benefit of getting the mammogram far out weighs the discomfort!
Kirstin (aka The Travelin Diva) says
Great article! My mammogram is a staple in my annual physical. I must admit that I don’t like it or look forward to it. My favorite Aunt is a 2x breast cancer survivor so she reminds us all to have them done! I am surprised that they are not requiring women to have them at younger ages. I had my first at 35. I would love to see it as a staple in women’s annual health exams starting as early as 20. The earlier you know about an issue the better the chances are of conquering it.
Ronnie Tyler says
Kirsten…I think that ultimately…we need to talk to our doctors to determine the age that is right for us to start. Because you are right, some people may need to start earlier in life. Also, what I learned from this is to know my own body and to question my doctor more.
Stacey Taylor says
Thanks Ronnie! I get them annually and its about time, so I am scheduling asap!!
Martine says
Great article and very informative I didn’t know a lot of this stuff. I will definitely spread the word to my friends and family members, I feel like I will now be a lot more prepared the first time I get a mammogram. Thanks for sharing!
Briana Myricks says
I’m glad I can wait for a while before I get mine! Haha. But in all seriousness, it’s necessary. I’m going to bug all my family members to get theirs.
Krishann says
Thank you for discussing such an important topic. I think sometimes we mothers get so busy with caring for our loved ones that we forget to care for ourselves. This encouraged me to make sure I am checking in with my mother and grandmother to make sure they are staying up to date when it comes to their exams. And at the same time I think I need to be more mindful about modeling self care for my own children, helping them SEE how important it is to care for our bodies. We only get one.
Jay Hurt says
Ronnie, this is a great article. I appreciate your involvement in the fight against breast cancer as I have experienced the pain and suffering this disease can cause a family. I have had conversations with my daughters about mammograms and how important they are. We have to be proactive in this fight. Continue sharing this great info!
wholesale nfl jerseys with free shipping 7926 says
cheap sale cheap sale
wholesale nfl jerseys with free shipping 7926 https://www.farsionline.org/?p=wholesale-nfl-jerseys-with-free-shipping-7926.html
https://2.gp/share/t8er says
The best fishing pole 200 bet has been fishing since he was just four years old.
When it actually comes to the feeding fish. Sometimes, what looks to be a fishing paradise fishing
pole 200 and one of the” Kramer calculations”.
Locally, fishing pole 200 Bob Danenhower,
of Bob’s Bait & Tackle And Sportsman’s Outlet.
Hook choice is important here as some models just don’t take to bending and snap the moment any fishing pole 200
pressure is applied. By about 9pm all the knocks and indications stopped just when the articles tell you
zander start feeding.