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Mammogram screening: 4 common excuses women use to skip it

Mammogram screening: 4 common excuses women use to skip it

(Courtesy of MountainStar Healthcare)


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Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know you should probably schedule a mammogram, but it’s not even October. You’ll get around to it—maybe. But you have your reasons for putting it off.

Well, every month should be breast cancer awareness, and according to Kathleen A. O’Neil, MD, a radiologist who does mammograms for women at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City and Lone Peak Hospital in Draper, it’s time to stop delaying or skipping mammograms.

Women in the US have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetimes, reports the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Scheduling your mammogram, an X-ray of the breast, has to be a priority.

“Mammography can detect cancers at early stages before women can feel a lump,” Dr. O’Neil explains. “This allows for the least amount of treatment and improves the chances for breast conservation.”

It also can increase your chances of surviving breast cancer if you’re ever diagnosed, says NCI.

However, mammograms aren’t a priority for women here in our home state. Currently, Utah ranks 7th lowest in the country for mammogram screenings, reports the Utah Department of Health’s Cancer Control Program.

Here are 4 common excuses—er, reasons—why women put off mammograms—and why they shouldn’t.

1. I don’t have time

“The most common reason we hear from women for delaying and skipping mammograms is that they are too busy,” Dr. O’Neil says.

Many women are so busy that even an eighth day in the week wouldn’t help. That means anything out of your daily routine feels like it needs to be crowbarred into your schedule.

The good news: “Mammograms don’t take much time, often as little as 20 minutes,” says Dr. O’Neil. Yes, you have to factor in getting to the hospital, but here are 3 ways to make it more efficient:

  • Try to get the first appointment. You might be less likely to wait, and you’ll have the rest of your day to yourself.
  • Schedule your mammogram on the same day as your annual physical or Pap smear. You’re already going to the doctor, anyway.
  • Make it an outing. If your friend, mom or sister also needs to have a mammogram, schedule it on the same day. Then, go out for lunch or dinner afterward.

2. It won’t work with my implants

Sure, it might be trickier for a traditional mammogram to detect breast cancer in women with breast implants. But tricky doesn’t mean impossible.

“It is true that implants obscure some breast tissue, but this is minimized as much as possible with special views that gently push the implant back and allow better images of the front part of the breasts,” Dr. O’Neil says.

And there’s no need to worry about the mammogram rupturing the implant. That’s very rare, says the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Courtesy of MountainStar Healthcare
Courtesy of MountainStar Healthcare

Just be sure to tell your technician about your implants beforehand.

3. I don’t have a family history

Neither do most women who end up diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Some women believe that if no one in their family has had breast cancer, then they are not at risk,” says Dr. O’Neil. “In fact, 80 percent of breast cancer diagnoses are in women with no family history.”

On the other hand, a family history of breast cancer does put you at a higher risk. A family history means that your mom, grandma, aunt, or sister has been diagnosed.

It also means that you or another first-degree family member have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, according to the ACS.

Either way, whether you have a family history of breast cancer or not, it’s still best to schedule your mammogram.

4. I’m scared

Whether you’re nervous about discomfort during the test or the possible results, it’s very normal to be scared, especially if you’ve felt a lump.

“Many women find that the procedure was not as big a deal as they imagined,” says Dr. O’Neil, “And the discomfort was less than they were expecting.”

But instead of being afraid of a mammogram, shift that fear to being afraid of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a late stage, when it’s harder to treat.

This is one of those times when action is the best way to conquer fear. In addition to scheduling your mammogram, take other steps toward reducing your risk of breast cancer, such as quitting smoking, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight, says the National Cancer Institute.

“Many of the risks for breast cancer are out of a woman’s control: age, family history, race,” Dr. O’Neil explains. “Some women may not realize that there are lifestyle changes that can raise or lower breast cancer risk, so they don’t ask.”

Talk to your doctor about the best age to start having mammograms based on your health, lifestyle, and family history. Don’t wait until October. Schedule a mammogram at a MountainStar Hospital today.

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