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How 20 Minutes Can Save Your Life & Link Up On the Edge #167

October 18, 2019 / 84 Comments
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“I would encourage you: be informed – knowledge is power.”

Matt Bevin
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I am sure you are all aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But we need to be alert and on top of preventative measures all year long. Just as cancer doesn’t decide to strike only in October, we need to be scheduling our annual mammograms all throughout the year. However, I always get my mammograms in October because it is the easiest for me to remember. You know, at this stage of life, the memory is the first thing to go!

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Due to my age and my health, my doctors have recommended that I have my breast screenings every other year. This year was the year. I just went on Wednesday, so while it is fresh in my memory, I wanted to share with you just how quick and easy the mammogram process really is and how this twenty minute screening really can save your life.

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In recent years, there has been a gradual decline in breast cancer diagnoses in women over the age of 50. Since 1990, there has been a noticeable drop in death rates due to breast cancer because of increased awareness, better screening procedures and early detection, as well as treatment options that continue to improve with medical advancements.

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We are a nation whose health care system has been focused primarily on sick care for a really long time. But there is a shift occurring where preventative care is becoming just as important, if not more important, as medical professionals and insurance companies are realizing the dramatic benefits to everyone when we focus on maintaining good health rather than simply treating and curing illnesses after the fact.

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Breast screenings, or mammograms, are one of the best ways for early detection of any type of suspicious lumps in the breasts that can be cause for concern. When detected early while still in the localized stage, the five year relative survival rate for breast cancer patients is 100%. That speaks volumes to the importance of getting those mammograms as well as regular self breast exams and clinical breast exams by your gynecologist.

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I will admit that I am not the most diligent in self exams and with the change in New York State for regular gynecology wellness exams (breast and pelvic exams) moving to every five years, I do make certain to schedule my mammograms every two years as recommended by my primary care physician.

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The American Cancer Society recommends that women with certain high risk factors should begin having annual mammograms at age 30. The standard recommendation for women who are at average risk is annual breast screenings beginning at the age of 45, but some may opt to begin at 40. Once you have reached the age of 55, breast screenings are recommended every other year. Because I have a general family history of cancer (not specifically breast cancer), I began having mammograms once I turned 40. But due to good health and clear screenings, I only go every other year.

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I know the idea of a mammogram can be quite intimidating and even anxiety or fear provoking for some women. So I wanted to briefly share my recent experience in the radiology department of Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York. When I scheduled my appointment, I had it in mind that I wanted to document the process somehow but there are a million privacy regulations that all medical treatment centers must abide by.

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So when I got to my appointment, I explained to the mammogram technician, Brianne, that I wanted to document my experience on my blog. She was totally on board with my mission and went to get her supervisor to inquire about taking pictures during the screening. Her supervisor explained to me that due to the strict privacy regulations, I could not take a picture of any patient, including myself as the patient that day. But he did permit me to take some photos of the equipment and Brianne was kind enough to pose with this beloved life saving screening machine!

mammogram machine
Meet Brianne…saving lives by screening boobs!
mammogram machine
mammogram machine

Brianne conducted my last screening in October 2017 as well. She is super friendly and personable and very in tune with the women she screens. In fact, I couldn’t get over the fact that she remembered me from two years ago! She explains the process in detail and is very gentle as she manipulates your breasts into the tedious positions required to get an appropriate scan of the breast tissue.

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She also maintains entertaining conversation with you to distract you from any discomfort that may be caused by having a stranger playing with your breasts! Although, she makes you feel as if you are not strangers at all which definitely aids in the comfort level for anyone who may be bashful or wary about the mammogram process. I am not at all bashful when it comes to nudity especially in a health care environment. It is just necessary and I have no shame or embarrassment in it. But I do understand that there are many women who may find this process very uncomfortable. I am hoping that by sharing my experience, I can help mitigate any discomfort so that you all take the initiative and get your mammograms.

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As far as physical discomfort or pain, there is literally none involved, other than the tedious manipulation to get your breast into the machine properly. Basically, it is just an awkward process, not painful. I even went for my mammogram at the height of PMS breast tenderness and it was fine. The entire procedure from the moment I walked into the radiology room until I walked out was less than twenty minutes. That is twenty minutes well spent in the interest of potentially saving my life.

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This was my third mammogram at Samaritan Medical Center. Each time I have gone in October and received a gift bag and pink carnations as a thank you for having my screening there.

breast cancer awareness gift bag, pink carnations

One of these days, if ever I can get this blog making me a decent income, I plan to sponsor the Samaritan mammogram gift bags with some sort of donation. Overall, I have never had a bad experience with any procedure that I have had done at Samaritan in the past 6 1/2 years that I have lived in Watertown. So I just wanted to give them a big heartfelt thank you for all that they do in caring for our little community and our health care needs.

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I also wanted to share with any local readers that Samaritan Medical Center will be opening a new Women’s Wellness and Breast Care Center in the Samaritan Health and Wellness Plaza on Washington Street. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on November 13, 2019, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. I was invited to come tour the facility before the ribbon cutting ceremony, so if I can fit that into my schedule, I will definitely share photos and more information here.

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So tell me, if you are a woman who falls into the categories where mammograms are recommended, have you had your mammogram yet?!

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Now onto the featured favorites section of this post! I am going to try something new this week. I am going to feature three different categories of posts. (1) The reader favorite (most clicked). (2) My favorite outfit post. (3) My favorite post that is not fashion related. It will be a recipe, a DIY project, a book review, a travel post, an inspirational post, etc.

Reader Favorite (Most Clicked Post)

Last weeks’ reader favorite was Julie of This Main Line Life with her post, Turning 50: The Good, The Bad & The WTF. There is some seriously good stuff in this post that left me nodding my head in agreement and chuckling out loud at the accuracy of midlife stuff!

Julie of This Main Line Life

My Favorite Outfit Post

Mel of Mom with Style captured my heart with her sassy outfit in her post, Tips on How to Create a Fall Wardrobe You’ll Love. The outfit is inspiration enough, but then Mel shares some fun tips on curating the perfect Fall wardrobe.

Mel of Mom with Style

My Favorite Non-Fashion Post

She had me at neoteny. As a wordsmith, I am always up for a good vocabulary lesson. But not only that, Pam of A New Lens has offered a supremely valuable commentary on the benefits of aging while retaining a sense of childlike whimsy in her post, Age: A New Word to Define It.

Pam of A New Lens

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Shop my look…

Outfit Details: Top and Camisole-Torrid (Old) / Cardigan-Kohl’s (Old) / Jeans-Gap Factory (Old) / Coat-Target (Old) / Boots-Charlotte Russe (Old) / Beret-c/o Banggood (Old) / Necklace-c/o Happiness Boutique (Old) / Earrings-Old

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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