The Mammogram – Five Great Reasons to Schedule One Now!

I’m sure there are more than five reasons to get a Mammogram in 2022. I’ve honed my list to five.

My List – Reason for Getting a Mammogram

1. Three Million Women live with Breast Cancer in the U.S.  Mammograms save lives. It’s a fact.
2. 42,000 Women will die in 2022 because Breast Cancer is not detected early enough for treatment.
3. Getting diagnosed with Breast Cancer is devastating. Learning that your doctor recommends a mastectomy and chemotherapy is almost unbearable.
4. Breast Cancer is a leading cause of death among young women ages 15-34.
5. Get a mammogram because it is essential to take care of yourself. You are worth it. You are needed, and you are loved.

That is the list of reasons you should schedule a mammogram; now, let’s talk about why I write this post and podcast.

I’ve got two personal stories to tell.

Hi everybody, I’m Gloria Moraga. Welcome to my podcast. Please subscribe. Please share. This is a transcript of my podcast episode. 

My Thoughts About The Mammogram

I had a mammogram recently. I was late getting it. And I thought, now is a great time to remind you to schedule one for next year. 

Five good reasons to put breast health-self-exams-mammograms on your New Year’s Resolution List.

Millions of Women are Living With Breast Cancer

1. Mammograms save lives. It’s a fact.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women; lung cancer is first.

But if breast cancer is found early, survival rates are high. The goal is to remove the cancer cells before they spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs.

2. 42,000 Women will die in 2022 because Breast Cancer was not caught early enough for treatment.

Of course, this is an estimate. But I don’t want any woman to die from a disease we can treat if caught early.

3. Getting diagnosed with Breast Cancer is devastating. Learning that your doctor recommends a mastectomy and chemotherapy is almost unbearable.

My Reporting on Breast Cancer Awareness

I’m going to share a personal story at this point. When I was a political reporter at ABC News Sacramento, I interviewed Dr. Ernie Bodai, a breast cancer specialist. He and other doctors were working to increase breast cancer awareness, and they were lobbying to get a Breast cancer awareness postage stamp and license plates in California.

My photographer Scott Waters and I met with Dr. Bodai early one morning for an interview; then, we planned to follow him into surgery.

For some reason, I did not have all the information I needed before we walked into the operating room.

Watching a Mastectomy

I thought we would witness a lumpectomy where a mass or lump is removed from the breast.

Maybe because my assignment editor set up the initial interview, I was in the dark.

Bottom line, we were in the operating room, and Dr. Bodai explained what he was doing.

He said, here are the cancerous cells; we will remove them. With that, he took his scapple and removed the patient’s breast. Her entire breast.

It happened quickly. When you hear the phrase, “the skill of a surgeon,” this is what they are talking about.

He placed it on a tray a nurse was holding, and she walked away with it.

He said it would now go to the lab to determine the exact cell type.

I felt faint. I think I did not quiet because I was in shock. I didn’t know we were going to see a breast removal.

I looked at Scott. He was as pale as a white sheet.

This is reason number three, avoid a mastectomy at all costs.

Young Women and Breast Cancer

4. Breast Cancer is a leading cause of death among young women ages 15-34.

It’s essential to think about breast health for these young women. I will link to a Breast Self-Exam Guide, which all women should conduct monthly. If you feel a lump or mass, get to a doctor. Get the mammogram.

Reason # 5 You Are Worth It

 Get the mammogram because it is essential to take care of yourself because you are worth it. You are needed, and you are loved.

It’s A Pain But Do It

Finally, I got my mammogram last week. It was unpleasant. Here’s why. I got to the hospital early.

I checked in. Then waited 45 minutes in the outer waiting room.

Finally, I was called to come to the back waiting room.

I was given a paper gown and told to remove all clothing from the waist up.

I was cold.

I had to wait another 45 minutes.

I worked on a crossword puzzle on my phone.

Finally, I get called into the Mammogram room.

There were two female x-ray mammogram technicians in the room.

One said, “I am in training. Can you stand, okay?”

I wear a leg brace and use crutches to walk.

Yes, I said, I can stand and walk a few steps.

So, I’m standing at the machine, a medieval-looking device.

The Machine And How It Works

Here’s how it works, the technician places your breast on the bottom plate, lowers the top plate and squeezes your breast between the two plates.

Your breast is wedged in there. You can’t move. It’s painful. Then they say, don’t breathe.

You hold your breath. A long time passes. They warn you again. Don’t breathe.

You feel light-headed. You are in pain.

Well, my lady in training did it wrong.

They looked at the x-ray, and then they were whispering to each other. I knew I was in trouble.

We must do it again, my lady said. I didn’t complain.

This is better than getting cancer or getting the breast slashed off. I think.

So, the lady is nervous. She keeps moving my breast around. The other lady says, make sure you can see the nipple. I try to help her.

She says, don’t move. I will do it.

Then she says, this, and this was the last straw, “try to relax.”

Fat chance, I think.

Gloria, Shut The Fuck Up

Shut up, I tell myself. Don’t say anything. She is nervous and in training.

Do I shut up? No.

I say You Relax!!!

And I laugh. The supervisor laughs. We all laugh.

Just three girlfriends, out to lunch, enjoying life, sharing a joke.

Haha haha!

Finally, it’s over.

I thank them. They thank me. I hope I never see them again. And I’m sure they feel the same way about me.

I get in the dressing room, and I shoot a video of myself, talking about the importance of getting a mammogram.

They save lives, my friends. Get one. Yes, it’s one of life’s minor pains. But it’s worth it, and so are you.

Be safe.

A Self-Examine Video