Why you should get your mammogram done

Mammograms are not fun. No one likes some stranger positioning you in awkward position so your breast can be pressed and squished into a pancake. However, getting one done can save your life.

I'm not even 40 yet and I've had two mammograms done. My latest one was done yesterday. Luckily I walked out of the breast health clinic in less than an hour of my scheduled appointment. This was a vastly different experience compared to my first mammogram.

Earlier this year I was told I had breast cancer. I ended up at the breast health clinic after my family physician  discovered a cyst. With a requesition for an ultrasound in hand, I made an appointment at the clinic. A routine ultrasound turned into a me getting a mammogram and a second ultrasound done. The radiologist told me that she believed I had cancer. There was a dark, but subtle, area in my left breast that raised alarm bells.

More appointments were made, this time for a biopsy and a MRI. For almost two weeks I walked around thinking I had cancer. I started making plans. I arranged for child care for my daughter. I called relatives. My husband made arrangements to take time off for appointments.

While I was counting down the days to meet the surgeon, I received a phone call from my family physician who informed me the area in question was actually dense tissue. No cancer. I didn't light up the MRI.

It was a surreal experience. I have no ill will towards the breast health clinic. They take this stuff seriously. I was just lucky. After reading some statistics and talking to professionals at the clinic, about 90 per cent of the time the radiologist is correct in his or her's assessment after reading the ultrasound and mammogram results. Luckily, I just happen to fall in that 10 per cent.

After meeting with the surgeon, he told me they follow up on every case. He also told me that the worst thing a doctor can do is dismiss that you have breast cancer because of age.

When my family physician discovered that cyst, she could had easily said, "It's a cyst. Don't worry about it." Instead, she followed up on it.

This whole experience has showed me that breast cancer screening is important. If you need to get a mammogram done, get it done. Again, no one likes there breasts squished into pancakes, but a bit of annoyance can save your life.