Yes, many have been there. I must have dense breast too (never been told that but have had similar results with mammograms. I have opted to pay out of pocket (roughly $250) for a Her Scan ultrasound. Last one (and first by this company) came back all clean. This company travels to different cities all year. I highly recommend them. I agree with you that insurance companies should cover this. I’m enjoying reading your articles. We are like minded in the health department.
Loved listening to your voice as I followed along, Andrea. I'm blessed with non-dense breasts apparently, but I believe the smashing plates damage our breasts.
I've always wanted to invent the version designed especially for men's balls.
Here's a comment that came with condecending tone that made me want to smack his face, "Since you're 75, you might as well not worry about getting another mammogram."
It's hard to convey a tone in text, but I bet you got it.
One round of scrotum smashing on a mammo machine and the whole industry would be changed.
The fact that Dr made a comment like that to you at 75, when you clearly could live another 25 years healthily, just reinforces my assertion that the medical establishment thinks women beyond their childbearing years are just throwaways.
I found a great cartoon that makes our point about smashing his jewels, but I'm unable to upload here. I'll figure that out and post a note and see if I can the you, Andrea. I'm having fun finding my way around here on Substack.
Longevity is in my DNA. Blessed, I am. My Mama Peggy had her life graduation at the age of 96 and her elder sister at 100.
Mom was a fierce, independent woman. As she neared her passing, she spoke up loudly and said, "I ain't dying. I'm graduating!'
Melanoma is our family's curse, genetically. Turns out to avoid it, avoid citrus. I don't know if you have allergies or not, but it turns out people with terrible allergies rarely get prolonged cancer. The only time I grew a tumor (a uterine fibroid) was when I became chemically overwhelmed and stopped having allergies or feeling badly. My body had stopped fighting for a bit, and a tumor grew, so as long as I feel nasty...
So, take my words with a grain of salt, knowing that this is the only way for me to not feel powerless besides admiring your honesty at your challenges.
I am sure you have probably also researched about drainage, sauna therapies to detox toxins out of body tissues, therapeutic fungi, keeping electronic devices away from the boobs, including those magnetic stoves. A three-foot distance, if I remember. There are so many dang toxins in our environment right now. My kids had a genetic change. When I was a kid, gasoline smelled sweet and heady, but my kids found it immediately disgusting and gross and can't stand perfumes, have lots of allergies, and they told me "I think we are lucky because our bodies warn us before exposure." Their dna changed by over 1%! sigh. The stress of worry, alone, must be awful. Be gentle and kind with yourself and read labels. EWG.org has a list of safe products, shampoos, laundry, etc. At 23, I had to go to a clinic specializing in chemical injuries and toxic exposures. I was very ill. High levels of benzene in my blood stream (and probably the cause of dna changes in my kids). I did a 6-week sauna therapy program that removed most of the toxins out of my body. One woman outgassed perfume she hadn't worn in over 5 years. It came out of her tissues because we have ways of storing toxins, and unfortunately, the breasts are one of the fat repositories for toxins.
And there it is, I have nerded out on you to avoid wanting to bawl my eyes out because life bites in so many ways. Hugs.
Necessary and poignant article. Turned 54 and suddenly I had a mammogram that needed to be an ultrasound that turned into a very terrifying biopsy. Luckily, I have learned to take ownership of my body in invasive procedures, and spoke up when I felt dizzy and sick and scared. got through it, many women do, and my mantra the whole time was "breast cancer is not part of my story." These tests can derail us emotionally, we get scared, but we push through and get to share about it so the next woman is prepared!
This post has brought tears to my eyes and slowed my breathing. Deep breaths. As the spouse of someone who also had "dense breasts" and had a "clean mammogram four months before cancer was detected in her lymph nodes, I cannot understand why "awareness" is a crappy bandaid for actual results. Because once cancer is found, somehow there are other tests to consider, confirming what the doctors already know. There has to be a better was of identifying pre-cancerous or even early stage cancer than smashing women's breasts between glass plates. There has to be a way to get insurance companies to approve ultrasounds or PET scans (at the worse) for women who have entirely normal dense breasts. There has to be a way to fight this f*cking disease before another woman loses her life and her widowed husband jumps onto an earnest and thoughtful post by a stranger, expressing her real fears and frustrations.
I agree: the way things are done currently is obviously less than ideal. The American medical model is upside down. And I plan to keep talking about it. Loudly.
And I sincerely apologize for commenting on my comment, but if you haven't heard Oom Sha La La by Hayley Heyndericks, which is about an irregular mammogram, I highly recommend it. Really a touching song on this issue:
What an honest and fearless post!! I’ve also been touched by cancer and you are right health vigilance is draining and not just on the wallet! We still strive to do better and you are right we are LEGION!! You got this! Praying for you if that’s ok
You are not alone! I have dense breasts and two years ago had my first core needle biopsy. I wrote about the experience for Well+Good. This year, I had the MRI (not everyone has insurance that covers that cost) after a regular mammogram and a follow-up u/s. Every year, your brain gets all twisty wondering and waiting. "Yes, the radiologist would like to do an ultra-sound"..and your chest gets tight and the anxiety kicks in and you hope whatever they see magically disappears in minutes. A cloud of impending doom just blows in until you get the results.
Yes, many have been there. I must have dense breast too (never been told that but have had similar results with mammograms. I have opted to pay out of pocket (roughly $250) for a Her Scan ultrasound. Last one (and first by this company) came back all clean. This company travels to different cities all year. I highly recommend them. I agree with you that insurance companies should cover this. I’m enjoying reading your articles. We are like minded in the health department.
This is literally a must read - exceptional - brava! Sending to all the girls in my life this post - ty 🤍🎯
Breast cancer surgery radiation and chemo survivor here. Hope everything goes well but if not here for that too❤️
Amazing!!!! YAS!!!!!!
Loved listening to your voice as I followed along, Andrea. I'm blessed with non-dense breasts apparently, but I believe the smashing plates damage our breasts.
I've always wanted to invent the version designed especially for men's balls.
Here's a comment that came with condecending tone that made me want to smack his face, "Since you're 75, you might as well not worry about getting another mammogram."
It's hard to convey a tone in text, but I bet you got it.
Blessings to your healthy breasts.
One round of scrotum smashing on a mammo machine and the whole industry would be changed.
The fact that Dr made a comment like that to you at 75, when you clearly could live another 25 years healthily, just reinforces my assertion that the medical establishment thinks women beyond their childbearing years are just throwaways.
It pisses me off.
Thank you for the well wishes!
I found a great cartoon that makes our point about smashing his jewels, but I'm unable to upload here. I'll figure that out and post a note and see if I can the you, Andrea. I'm having fun finding my way around here on Substack.
Longevity is in my DNA. Blessed, I am. My Mama Peggy had her life graduation at the age of 96 and her elder sister at 100.
Mom was a fierce, independent woman. As she neared her passing, she spoke up loudly and said, "I ain't dying. I'm graduating!'
Melanoma is our family's curse, genetically. Turns out to avoid it, avoid citrus. I don't know if you have allergies or not, but it turns out people with terrible allergies rarely get prolonged cancer. The only time I grew a tumor (a uterine fibroid) was when I became chemically overwhelmed and stopped having allergies or feeling badly. My body had stopped fighting for a bit, and a tumor grew, so as long as I feel nasty...
So, take my words with a grain of salt, knowing that this is the only way for me to not feel powerless besides admiring your honesty at your challenges.
I am sure you have probably also researched about drainage, sauna therapies to detox toxins out of body tissues, therapeutic fungi, keeping electronic devices away from the boobs, including those magnetic stoves. A three-foot distance, if I remember. There are so many dang toxins in our environment right now. My kids had a genetic change. When I was a kid, gasoline smelled sweet and heady, but my kids found it immediately disgusting and gross and can't stand perfumes, have lots of allergies, and they told me "I think we are lucky because our bodies warn us before exposure." Their dna changed by over 1%! sigh. The stress of worry, alone, must be awful. Be gentle and kind with yourself and read labels. EWG.org has a list of safe products, shampoos, laundry, etc. At 23, I had to go to a clinic specializing in chemical injuries and toxic exposures. I was very ill. High levels of benzene in my blood stream (and probably the cause of dna changes in my kids). I did a 6-week sauna therapy program that removed most of the toxins out of my body. One woman outgassed perfume she hadn't worn in over 5 years. It came out of her tissues because we have ways of storing toxins, and unfortunately, the breasts are one of the fat repositories for toxins.
And there it is, I have nerded out on you to avoid wanting to bawl my eyes out because life bites in so many ways. Hugs.
Vivian!!! Omg. Please write a whole article about all of this fantastic information so people far and wide can see and share it.
You’re amazing. I love your mind.
I also love a good sauna. I need to change gyms: my new one doesn’t have a sauna anymore.
I have a rebounder, so I’m going start using it again for lymphatic drainage. Thanks for inspiring me.
That citrus thing is crazy. So, you’re saying I should be happy that ragweed is tormenting me right now? 🤣
I have noticed that a lot of people who get cancer have a period where they feel great before diagnosis and are shocked because they felt so healthy
If you have strong immune responses be happy
I just prayed for you.
That is so kind. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 🙏🏻
Necessary and poignant article. Turned 54 and suddenly I had a mammogram that needed to be an ultrasound that turned into a very terrifying biopsy. Luckily, I have learned to take ownership of my body in invasive procedures, and spoke up when I felt dizzy and sick and scared. got through it, many women do, and my mantra the whole time was "breast cancer is not part of my story." These tests can derail us emotionally, we get scared, but we push through and get to share about it so the next woman is prepared!
Yes. I’m borrowing your mantra!
Thank you.
This post has brought tears to my eyes and slowed my breathing. Deep breaths. As the spouse of someone who also had "dense breasts" and had a "clean mammogram four months before cancer was detected in her lymph nodes, I cannot understand why "awareness" is a crappy bandaid for actual results. Because once cancer is found, somehow there are other tests to consider, confirming what the doctors already know. There has to be a better was of identifying pre-cancerous or even early stage cancer than smashing women's breasts between glass plates. There has to be a way to get insurance companies to approve ultrasounds or PET scans (at the worse) for women who have entirely normal dense breasts. There has to be a way to fight this f*cking disease before another woman loses her life and her widowed husband jumps onto an earnest and thoughtful post by a stranger, expressing her real fears and frustrations.
I’m so sorry, Chris.
My heart hurts for you.
I agree: the way things are done currently is obviously less than ideal. The American medical model is upside down. And I plan to keep talking about it. Loudly.
And I sincerely apologize for commenting on my comment, but if you haven't heard Oom Sha La La by Hayley Heyndericks, which is about an irregular mammogram, I highly recommend it. Really a touching song on this issue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyvYIYwLzTw
Thank you. Going to listen now.
What an honest and fearless post!! I’ve also been touched by cancer and you are right health vigilance is draining and not just on the wallet! We still strive to do better and you are right we are LEGION!! You got this! Praying for you if that’s ok
That is ALWAYS ok and very much appreciated.
Powerful post! Good luck!! "We’d like you to have a follow up." Not the scare you wanted for Halloween.
Exactly
You are not alone! I have dense breasts and two years ago had my first core needle biopsy. I wrote about the experience for Well+Good. This year, I had the MRI (not everyone has insurance that covers that cost) after a regular mammogram and a follow-up u/s. Every year, your brain gets all twisty wondering and waiting. "Yes, the radiologist would like to do an ultra-sound"..and your chest gets tight and the anxiety kicks in and you hope whatever they see magically disappears in minutes. A cloud of impending doom just blows in until you get the results.
Exactly! Well put.