Take care of your tatas

    

We are quickly approaching the end of October but Breast Cancer Awareness doesn’t end there. Turing 40 this year ushered in my first mammogram screening. Although I love doing new things this is one that I wasn’t looking forward to but health is wealth. No way I can live to be 110 years old without practicing the very same self care I preach to others. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and I sat by her side through the diagnosis and chemo treatments. Thank goodness she was an advocate for her health otherwise it may have gone undetected. This has been the push to not only get screened but remind others as well.

    When my physician recommend my mammogram my whole live literally flashed before my eyes and I wondered how 40 years had flown LOL. I’m not going to lie I immediately became anxiousness from the unknown results. Driving to my appointment I looked over at my unused lotion and deodorant. I was told such items would interfere with the x-ray. My sole mission during my ride there was not to break out in a sweat. I forgot how self conscious I get when I’m seen in public looking ashy (that’s slang for dry skin for those who don’t know). 

    After checking in I was escorted to a private room to change into a gown and put my belongings in a locker. It was time to squish the tatas! I remember staring at the ways in which breast tissue can be flattened and stretched like play doh. I was disturbed but intrigued at the same time. All in all, other than the machine being cold, it wasn’t as painful as it was uncomfortable. The technicians reminder to breathe helped me through it. At work, my patients tend to hold their breath when I take their dental x-rays and I also remind them to not hold their breath and here I am doing the same thing. I was told I have dense tissue like the women in my family but thankfully no cancerous lesions.

    I’ve always said that if it was God’s will for me to experience this I would chop them off and get perkier set. I came to this decision after I made the purchase of the pink shirt worn in this post. I might be overthinking it but the goal isn’t to save unhealthy cancerous tissue. Like Elsa says, “Let it go”. I respect others personal preference on whether to do localized lumpectomy or a full mastectomy. There’s is no shame or judgement if ever given the option. For me, I just would to reduce further chances of cancer returning to affect the remaining tissue or lymph nodes. Sounds so cheesy but early prevention is key! This blog is your reminder to schedule your appointment because  unfortunately for some it is a matter of life and death! Leave a comment below when you scheduled your mammogram check up.