Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Checkin' Out the Ta-tas

Alright ladies (and any men who visit) it's time to talk about an important topic! Our breasts!! As many of us know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! If you have a family history of breast cancer or are 40 or over, make sure you get a mammogram every year!

I had one done 11 years ago because I felt a lump in my breast. Turns out I was pregnant!! Well, I turned the big 4-0 this summer and decided that I wanted to have my mammogram done during October.

I brought my camera with me because I wanted you to see it's something that's survivable. I'm small in the breast area so the gal had quite the time making sure I was all in the machine. I felt like the bones in my ribs were getting into the picture. I'm small around the rib cage also so leaning into the the machine was a bit uncomfortable.

I think having nursed 4 kids I was a bit more, how shall I say it, pliable with the squishability of my girls. Yep, they ended up like pancakes. I think mammograms are like childbirth. It's uncomfortable for the moment, but we forget it after it's over. It only took maybe 20 minutes for the entire exam process. And those 20 minutes were worth all the discomfort. Now is the waiting game to get the results in a week.
The first photo below is pixelated in a certain spot even though in this small view you might not be able to tell...just so we're clear. I keep seeing it and thinking, "Oh my goodness, this could be a really bad picture if I don't explain it."


There was a huge visual difference between my mammogram from 11 yrs ago and the new digital view. My first one was filled with all kinds of white stuff. The new one was much more clear. I have no idea if there's a big difference since I was pregnant with my first one.

I hope I haven't offended anyone with my photos. That certainly wasn't the purpose. It wasn't intended to be risque either. I tried to be as modest about this important and life saving procedure as possible.
There are a number of sites I'd like to direct you to in case you would like to receive more information or to help a woman who can't afford a mammogram.


The Breast Cancer Site
Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to the NFL and commentators for making pink apart of their October games! Favre is #4 this year for the Vikings and as many people know, his wife had breast cancer. I love seeing pink everywhere! Coach Brad Childress has a pink bow on his turtleneck, many players are wearing pink gloves and pink arm bands. As the players get down to the different end zones, there are pink banners.

5 comments:

Lori (sugarandgrits) said...

Thank you so much for sharing, Mimi. I thought you did a wonderful job!

I'm about to turn 32 (in Dec.), but I've been stressing about having a mammogram since I was old enough to understand what it meant! I am also "small in the breast area" and I can only imagine how painful it's going to be. *shudder*

~ Lori

Project Journal said...

Nice post, Mimi. I think that this is a very serious issue. I'm 17 and a senior in high school. Last year, we had to partner up in my AP Bio class and "Pick our cancer". A friend and myself had breast cancer. We studied it for about a month and now know basically everything there is to know at the moment : )

Anyway, 2 weeks ago, our beloved choir director's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is already having surgery on this Friday and then radiation. It's been tough...
Thanks so mcuh!
Hannah

Mimi N said...

Hannah, thank you so much for sharing! I will be praying for your choir director's wife. Everyone else who sees Hannah's comment, please keep them in prayer!

Lori, it's honestly not that bad! I swear!! Uncomfortable, yes, but I wouldn't say painful. Each of my 4 digital xrays was over pretty quickly. Once you get into position and you're squished in there, they squish until YOU decide what's enough (at least that was my case) and then the pictures. You can do it, no problem. I'm not sure why women make it sound excrutiating. :) Who knows how things will be in 8+ yrs!!

~Mimi

Just Jennifer said...

I'm really not looking forward to this when I get older. :(

Ali said...

What a great post! I love that you were comfortable enough to share this and take the pictures too! Although, I hopefully have a few more years until I will need to have one of these, I will feel more comfortable knowing what to expect!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving your sweet comment! Have a great day!

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Woven by Words by Mimi B is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.