My Journey With Health And Fitness – The Importance Of Mammograms

I hear the city of Vancouver has voted to lower the speed limit in residential streets from 50 kph to 30 kph (30 mph to 20 mph). The rationale behind this is it will keep pedestrians safer and will reduce the likelihood that they get seriously injured or die. I laughed and laughed when I heard this. Then ironically, I was crossing the street to start my walk on the promenade this morning, I stood at the edge of the crosswalk and the vehicle in the left lane stopped at the last minute when they saw me. The vehicle heading in the opposite direction who was at least 1/2 a block away at the time sped through the crosswalk and shouted out ‘sorry’. Oh and the speed limit on that street? You bet, 30 kph so I feel much safer.

I was due to have my annual mammogram last month. Unfortunately, I had a scheduling conflict so had it postponed until July 3rd. I showed up on time for my appointment only to be told the screening mammography machine had just broken down. Crap! They rescheduled me to July 24th but a cancelation happened and they could get me in yesterday. The called on Tuesday (I was in a group session but took the call sure they were going to postpone it again) and they asked if I could take an earlier appointment. I showed up yesterday only to learn that once again the mammography machine had broken down. But, they had come up with a work around. They took 3 of us into the hospital itself (screening is done in a separate building) as they had decided to use the diagnostic mammography machine for those of us who had had multiple appointment changes. Phew, finally got it done.

I have a screening mammogram every year because my Mom had stage 4, terminal breast cancer. I am very adamant about getting this done as Mom’s cancer means I am more at risk. According to BC Cancer there are 3 reasons to get a screening mammogram;

1. They save lives. It is imperative that the cancer be found when it is small allowing for more treatment options and a better chance of survival (1 in 8 women in BC will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
2. They are safe and effective. As well they are considered the international gold standard for detecting breast cancer early by finding lumps 2-3 years before they are felt. Research has determined that there is more than a 25 per cent reduction of death from breast cancer among those that are regularly screened.
3. Breast cancer risks increase with age. 80 per cent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women 50 years or older (there is an argument that screen should start at age 40 to be most effective).

If you go for your first mammogram they will likely advise you that you may be called in for further testing. I know when I had my 1st one done the tech let me know that 10% of women who receive mammograms are called back but that less than 10% of those women are actually diagnosed with breast cancer. She told me to definitely not panic if I was called back, chances are everything would be fine. I was really glad she told me that up front because if I had been called back I would have convinced myself that I had cancer.

The bottom line, screening mammograms are important for women who have a family history and more importantly for all women 50 and over. So if you fit into one of those categories and have not done a screening mammogram or don’t do them on an annual basis, please suck it up and get it done. Yes, they are not pleasant but ultimate they could save your life.