My mother died of breast cancer at 57. My mother wouldn’t go to the doctor because she stubbornly refused to take care of herself in a kind of heroic sacrifice built on “too busy” and “I’m fine.” She was not fine, and my children never met her.
This is your annual reminder: please don’t skip your mammogram. Please make time even if you are busy. The appointment itself takes 15 minutes. You are worth it; you should get preventative medical care and all the screenings.
I had mine on Wednesday. Waiting for the results is always nerve wrecking, but if something is there, I would like to know about it sooner rather than later.
In other news, White Hot came out from GA, we listened to it, and the performances are excellent. Cornelius is a stand out.
Also, Grace Draven is dipping her toes into preorder waters. The Moon Raven is up for preorder on Amazon.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous. The artist is Louisa Gallie. I have been fortunate to have a front seat to Grace plot this story, and it promises to be an action-packed love story.
Love the Title
Fixed 🙂
And First!
Thanks for the acknowledgement, Regina! I wasn’t trying, but sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut.
Oops, that was supposed to be MaryF.
I just had my 3-year anniversary of my bilateral mastectomies. Apparently I have (had) dense breast tissue because the mammos were not very helpful. Finally, I had an ultrasound and that was much more conclusive, but it was the needle biopsy that really told the tale. If you have the dense tissue, make your doctor order the ultrasound, if you are at all concerned.
Or MRIs, my doc alternates mammograms and breast MRI every 6 months. Dense tissue and strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer with no known risk gene. No good screening for ovarian cancer, need more research.
Ditto.
After 9 biopsies that were all “not cancer yet” (ductal hyperplasia will convert 100% over not more than 10 years), I chose to have pre-emptive bilateral mastectomies. The pathologist found the breast cancer after I’d had the surgery.
A brave decision, Robin! I also chose to go that route and, like you, my cancer was found subsequent to surgery in the pathology lab. Sure is nice not to wear those uncomfortable “foundational garments” (read bras) anymore. I am completely enjoying “living flat” and no one even seems to notice that I lack those “feminine” accoutrements.
I am so glad you are happy with your decision. I’m going flat with my DMX in December. I’m most nervous about being able to find clothes.
Oh, Penny. I’m so sorry this is happening to you, but you sound proactive and hopefully caught it early. Since I’m mostly a jeans and T-shirt kind of gal, my wardrobe wasn’t a concern for me, but I feel like everything fits better. Weird. Anyway, so many of the women I talked to wished they hadn’t gone the reconstruction route as it was much more painful and fraught with many more problems than solutions. And no “bouncing” with every step on my jogging days!
I did that …. MRIs and mammograms alternating every 6 months, but skipped during covid…. I ended up with metastatic breast cancer. It would have happened anyway but they would have caught it sooner and it might not have been metastatic. GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS!
I just had an MRI on my breasts. Now I have to go get an ultrasound on the one breast. Hopefully it will be good news.
Amen! I found a lump between my annual mammograms which always said I had breast dense tissue. With my family history, they went ahead and scheduled a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The mammogram was unclear, the ultrasound was some better, but still not great. They biopsied three sites which were conclusive. The MRI showed it the best.
During my first mammogram, I had to have a biopsy at 40. I had dense breast tissue, which increases the risk for breast cancer. I eventually enrolled in a high-risk screening program with alternating MRIs and Mammograms. My first MRI was negative, but six months later, I had early-stage breast cancer (the cancer never left the breast ducts). The follow-up MRI was negative, which meant the doctors caught the cancer at about as early as one can. I’m grateful to the radiologist and the team that performed the first biopsy because it was in a difficult area and less than 1 cm. I decided to go with a bilateral mastectomy because I wasn’t even 45. The genetic testing was negative, and there is no strong family history.
Thank you for the reminder. My Grandmother never smoked a day in her life , however, let the family smoke and she wound up with cancer. The doctor detected a lump and sent her for a mammogram. No matter your age get tested. Even men need to checked!
Even men need to be checked! (corrected)
There is an annual free bus that comes and screens in our county, too. It may be because we’re small-ish, but always check around. You might be able to get one for free. It took me 15 minutes from the time I walked in to the time I walked out and my results were emailed to me and reported to my doctor.
Yep, I’m due, and it’s been on my task list for months. Thanks for the reminder. I wasn’t super busy but my brain had too many tabs open, as someone once said. Now that I’ve quit my job, things are starting to get done. Knocked out my trailer registration last week, and this week it will be scheduling mammogram and dentist. Adulting, so much fun.
Thanks! My appointment is later this month.
I’ve had two bouts of breast cancer, 23 years apart. The cancer was detected early because of mammograms. I was incredibly lucky.
Please do yours. It could save your life.
Had mine done earlier in the year. No issues.
Now, if ragweed would just stop spreading the pollen love around, I would be just fine. 😁
Does anyone know if Grace’s new book will be out in other places besides Amazon? If not, I’ll grit the teeth and buy the book from there.
Per Grace’s website, TMR will be available on other retailer platforms such as B&N and Kobo as well for those folks who don’t want to purchase via Amazon 🙂
Thanks, Mod R. 😊
I listened to White Hot over the weekend. I have to say that Cornelius was AMAZING. And his voice. Wowza! The singing was a really nice touch.
Thanks for the annual reminder. I get my mammo in February. The technician is super nice and we talk about knitting projects during the scan.
This is a great reminder, please get checked if you can.
I never did as I thought I was too young and the free public screenings don’t start here until at the age of 50. Well, it turns out I did get it “young” and it was metastatic already at diagnosis.
I’m doing fine and my treatment has been easy so far, no need to worry.
So glad treatment is working!
In some states in the US, mammograms are free in the month of October. At my local hospital, you not only get the free Mammogram in October but you also get a free gift bag with some goodies. (I am in Nebraska.)
Great advice and my breast cancer has just been caught due to a regular mammogram. Now getting surgery in 3/4 weeks followed by 5 months (!) of chemo followed by radiotherapy. Not looking forward to this but glad it has been caught. And, as I live in the UK, I’m pretty thankful to have the NHS too.
I hope all of your treatment goes well and you have a smooth, quick recovery!
You can get thru this and come out on the other side healthy and with all of this in your rear view mirror, I just know it! Sending you my best wishes and prayers! 😁
It’s stressful, but, we’re so lucky we have these options. For Chemo drink LOTS of water, especially the first couple of days after an infusion. I kept a 32oz stainless steel thermos of ice water near me 24/7. Walk! After 20 minutes you’ll feel better. I’m 7 years out and grateful for every day. They know so much now about how to manage this scourge. Get well, be happy.
Get those mammograms done!
I’ve now had breast cancer twice-less than three years apart, and two different types of breast cancer. The first time, was because of Ilona’s reminder. I saw it and went, “Is it that time already?” and yep, it was. I scheduled my appointment that day, and they found the cancer, treated it, and was put on a regular screening schedule for three years of every six months.
Second time was last November-I was just put on the yearly screening so it had been about a year (ish) since my last mammogram. If it weren’t for my employer’s incentive program, I would have procrastinated last fall getting my regular screening. I didn’t feel any lumps, had no signs, and I was on medicine to prevent estrogen based breast cancer, so I thought I was good to go.
Nope. The doctors told me if I had waited even another two months (which I would have because work was crazy busy), it would have substantially increased the amount of chemotherapy I needed because it was such an aggressive cancer in a weird spot close to my chest wall. It also increased the odds it wouldn’t have been as successful.
The good news is that treatment went smoothly, they got 100% of the cancer out. I’m wrapping up the immunotherapy around Christmas, so I’ll have a lot to celebrate. I might even have more hair by then!
And like the crazy person I am, I signed up for a 5K in January 2026.
Someone/something is out there looking out for you! Good luck with the 5k!!
Congrats on the twice victory ✌️ and good luck at the 5K 💥
I’m so glad your treatment went well! I am pretty new to 5k’s myself (I started a year ago to prove to myself that 65 is not old!) I will be doing one on 01/01/26 as a great way to start the new year off right. I will be thinking of you and toasting to your success, with the treatment and with the 5k. You can do it! 😁
I got breast cancer in my 30’s, treated with lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. It’s been 34 years. Last year my older daughter was diagnosed (early because of regular mammograms) and this year my younger daughter was diagnosed and treated. No knowm genetic markers, but I believe they are just undiscovered, not non-existent. All is well, but Go Get Checked!
I really want to buy the t-shirt that says “Get your boobs checked, mine tried to kill me” but my daughters won’t let me.
Jane
Maybe get that on a coffee mug. That will get people talking.
lol My mom and I would both buy that shirt!!
May I suggest that you get the shirt and vow to only wear it in private? Say housecleaning, home pedicures, and yard work?
I want that t-shirt too! My husband told me it was crass so I haven’t bought it yet, but I’m still eyeing it. I’m with you on the genetics. They recommend to get retested genetically every 10 years if you have family history.
Just had my third mammogram and second ultrasound in less than a year. They are watching something that is probably a benign cyst. Kind of a pain, but better safe than sorry.
I am very excited for Grace’s next book and this cover is amazing, as all of hers are.
I turned 40 this year and got my Mammogram a few weeks ago. Thankfully the tech informed me the I would mostly likely be called back due to dense breasts and that i had never had a mammogram before. Sure enough got a call back had another scan. Everything is totally fine but always a nerve wracking experience! Worth EVERY moment though to have the ability to know and get screened every year.
I got the call back for an asymmetry. It was nerve wracking! But the follow up was ok. Thanks for always reminding us.
I had my first mammogram earlier this month. I have no family history but they found something they want to do more imaging off – but that scheduled for almost a month after the first mammogram so my friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year is fairly certain no one thinks its anything yet.
I do have a family history of skin cancer and being of an age when SPF 15 was a lot to use in my youth…. and generally as white as parchment. I’ve got a few “most likely skin tags” that occasionally bleed and itch. So when I talked to my doc about the mammogram I went a head and got a referral for a dermatologist. That’s on Halloween.
I appreciate the yearly mammogram reminder and the general “take time to take care of yourself even if you are busy” message. 💖💖💖
Failed mamogram in March, surgery in April, radiation all of June/july. Sweep of the Blade is my comfort book. “Ripper cushions” if you fail to take care of yourself
+1 on Sweep of the Blade!
“Failed” is so much more accurate than “positive”. Liked it.
I cannot agree more with this post. I went in for a routine Mammogram feeling nothing abnormal or out of the ordinary. They asked for additional images with an ultrasound which with denser tissue has happened to me before. I was diagnosed as precancerous and am awaiting my surgery date. My mother was diagnosed with cancer before 40 so she was very vocal about getting checked on a regular basis. I am so grateful that it was caught so early so hopefully I will have good results.
Reading your books has provided a very nice oasis in my sea of worry.
Thank you
Appreciate the reminder. With medical breakthroughs today, breast cancer caught early has a high survival rate and in the US, most insurance covers these exams 100% or close to it.
Excited for Grace Draven’s next book. Pre-ordered my copy yesterday!
I’ve pre-ordered The Moon Raven, thanks for the heads-up.
the cover does look pretty 😍
Yes. Also to the XY genome:prostate cancer is a thing. Get checked. Having gone through the treatment for different kind of C, earlier it is caught, better chance you got.
I get mammograms every year, especially as I have previously had a precancerous biopsy. Also breast ultrasound. Highly recommend.
Interesting that you have to wait for results. I live in a small rural city and that may have something to do with the immediate results. I think once I did not get immediate results and it may have been that the doctor was out of the office.
I started listening to White Hot this morning at the gym. I’ve read the book and it was wonderful to immerse myself in the story again. I have a lot of Graphic Audio books and I really enjoy their quality.
Seven years in with a metastatic diagnosis, 6.5 more than the doctors gave me. It does pay to be stubborn.
Always have a project going so I don’t sit thinking too much.
Metavivor has a wonderful t-shirt that says don’t ignore stage 4 with an elephant. Pink organizations are more about testing and awareness, if you have progressed find an organization/group/friend who can relate to talk to. It doesn’t have to be the same cancer. I had a lot of support from a cousin I recently lost to prostate cancer.
Keep positive and continue living!
You are so right about the importance of having a positive attitude, and not just related to cancer. I always tell my daughter, you can’t control everything that happens to you….but you can control how you react to it. We should all have your attitude: keep living! We’d be better off for it. Thanks for sharing this message.
I had a biopsy last month because of an abnormal scan. I’m incredibly grateful that my ins covers mammograms at 100%
In the UK females are invited for mammograms/breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50-71.
If you have a family history you can go prior to age 50.
We didn’t lose my mom directly to breast cancer. Two of her surgeries/treatments involved removing lymph nodes and that led to her developing angio sarcoma. It took that secondary condition to actually take her and it might not have been so entrenched if her doctor had been more attentive and aware because it’s a known syndrome in women whose breast cancer included lymphedema. She only found out about it from her licensed massage therapist who was alarmed by how the arm was feeling. Be wary.
Two years out from bilateral diagnosis–caught early due to mammogram. I add my two cents: mammograms are a pain (literally) and a sometimes-expensive annoyance . . . but you know what would be even more painful and annoying for your family? Planning your funeral. Get. The Damned. Mammogram.
My Uncle (Mother’s brother) was also a person who didn’t take care of himself. He refused to take his water pills because the doctor was a “young girl”. He had a heart condition and was due for surgery but did nothing to help himself. He died.
If it brings any shared comfort at all, my grandmother had a lump for 15 years before she saw a Doctor. She had similar reasons, it’s nothing, I’m fine, I don’t have time for this. By the time she went in, it was too late. She died when I was 18. I would have liked to have gotten to know her as an adult. Cancer robbed us of that.
You know, I always remember to make my appointment when friends (or favorite authors) make these type of posts! So I am doing it right now, ty Ilona.
I am so sorry. My dad died at 66 because he had diabetes but refused to see a doctor or get treatment. It wrecked his body and he died six weeks before my wedding. I am grateful to see you protecting your health and encouraging others to do the same! We are strong; we are not invincible. Anyway I’ve been putting off scheduling my checkup for a few weeks so I guess I’ll go do that now 🙂
Did mine Friday at STRIC in San Antonio.
I had the results that evening since I had a scare last year with several scans to rule out problems last year.
Two things … important one first…
This reminder for annual exams applies to our male friends and family too. It never hurts to have a baseline of you as healthy to be a reference when you are … not. If my beloved had gone in for a routine exam a month or two before the noticed pain, it might have shown something in his blood values. To be honest, six months before probably not, as it was a very fast and aggressive cancer. But he was a once-a-decade guy when it came to routine exams.
So, as I nag my male friends (and acquaintances, and strangers), go get an annual exam, tell yourself it is just to refresh that “healthy baseline” if you must, but at least go do it.
A few thoughts. If you have a family member that has a type of breast cancer that is not shown to be hereditary, and you are thinking you are safe, get checked. Get the BRCA1 and 2 mutation screening. Yes it may be costly. Planned parenthood may also provide free mammograms, depending on your insurance. Check with the American Cancer Society to inquire about free mammograms.
MEN need screening and mammograms too!
Those of you within the UC Davis healthcare system in California they have some excellent equipment upgrades. They have patented some of the new technology themselves. Or have been contributing to the upgrades.
Actually, if you get the genetic test from Ancestry, they do test for it. 23andme does too, but after their bankruptcy I had all my information removed. My family all did 23andme as part of a rheumatoid arthritis study my mom was in.
A better bet, however, is to sign up to participate in the All Of Us research project sponsored by the NIH. As part of study, they do genome testing and will tell you if you have the BRCA genes.
My appointment is this Wednesday. 🙂
Second thing … did anyone else initially interpret the picture/icon of Mod R holding up a cat, with the message “Fixed” … as the conclusion to a successful trip to the vet?
YES!!! lol
As always, I loved the GA production! They really do live up to their slogan. Thanks for the heads-up, Drace Draven is on my autobuy list, so I’ve happily just pre-ordered the book 🙂
I had mine this morning! My mom has been dealing with breast (and recently other) cancer for 29 years. I never miss my mammogram.
My mum would have died from metastatic breast cancer if a series of strokes hadn’t got her first – though they said the strokes may have been caused by the cancer so I think it counts. I was nineteen. There have been huge improvements in detection – mammograms, ultrasound and CT scans – as well as treatments of breast (and most other) cancer(s). My SiL is recovering from her fourth bout of breast cancer, the treatments she has had already have kept her alive for over twenty-five years, and the doctors expect her to make a complete recovery from this bout, way better than things were when my mum was diagnosed. I had my mammograms a few weeks ago, all clear thankfully.
Yay for a new Grace Draven book!
I’m not due for another 6months, but yes, get those mammograms every year, especially if there’s a history of ANY kind of cancer or cysts in your maternal lineage.
Thank you for this PSA! I really mean it. I worked in healthcare much of my career and you opening up and telling your story has likely led to more women getting their mammogram than anything I did to encourage women to do so. You are a hero.
Adding to Ilona’s advice and saying get the annual pap smear. Don’t be like me and delay it with the excuse of being too busy. I ended up in the ER from blood loss due to a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage 3C1 cervical cancer. If I’d been more mindful of my health and preventative screening, I could have avoided the joys of chemo and radiation. A hard lesson learned. I’ve been given the gift of survivorship and remission. I go to all my scheduled screenings now.
Thanks for the spotlight, Ilona! And thank you to all who preordered THE MOON RAVEN.
I’m so glad you are feeling better! And I can hardly wait to read The Moon Raven! I have a recommendation from Ilona to thank for helping me discover your books…they’re awesome! 🥰💕
Glad you’re feeling better.
I will be ordering a copy as soon as possible. Just not through Amazon. 😊
I am loving White Heat. But a semi and a semi are two different things: sem-me vs. sem-eye.
Yes, if you have breast cancer in your family, please make sure you are regularly screened. My mother was 58 when she passed 25 years ago. The difference with my mom was she was diagnosed at 45, had surgery, had chemo and radiation but shortly after her 10 years cancer free, it came back. Sadly it was a 3 year downhill slide as it had moved to her bones.
And the kicker? She had brought the lump up to her doctor 2 years earlier but he said it was just a fatty lump. What if he had taken her seriously and just ordered a biopsy just to be safe? Her cancer was pretty extensive when it was finally addressed. So I did have her for 13 years before she died – but that was also no long enough.
Catching cancer early means you may have a lot longer with your loved ones before they have to learn to go on without you.
I go for screening every year.
DITTO to this advice! I used to put mine off too, then in 2021 they found Stage 1 cancer in my left breast. It was caught super early and I only needed a small surgery and radiation. I’m now 4 years cancer free.
EARLY DETECTION IS THE CURE!
I had my boob squish a few months ago.
“You should get your results in a couple days.” Cool. Cool. Whatever. It was routine and I had no concerns.
I didn’t even make it home. “Hi. We need additional tests. There are spots.” Wait. What? Spots? “Can you go to [secondary location even farther away]? We need a specialized machine. And it needs to be done right away. There’s an opening in 2 days.”
2 days of worry. Go to other clinic. Boobs get marked up like football coach was planning plays on them. Lying on a table, topless, with multiple professionals coming in and out of the room.
Fat. My boobs were fat. I’d lost 25% of my body weight and my boobs had small fatty deposit pockets all over. 🙄
So glad it wasn’t anything more serious!
So sorry you had to go through that. I remember having to go in for a 2nd mammogram about 18 years ago. It was worrysome but the results came out to be ok. Still, being called back in for additional testing is very traumatic. I hope you have a good support system. Keep safe and pamper yourself now and then.
Glad the results were that and nothing more serious.
The “…marked up like football coach was planning plays on them” made me chuckle. 😂
I’m glad it turned out to be fat, and that you can laugh about it now and also give the BDH a chuckle! 😁
I’m about 1.5 years into the “we think it’s benign but we’d like you to come back in 6 months instead of a year” cycle. I’m finally calm when they say this now, but it was very worrisome when they first said it. As others have said, it’s definitely best to follow the program and be sure that everything is fine.
Honestly, I think the truth of the matter is that they wanted me to visit them more often because of my whimsical personality and sparkling conversational skills. 😉
This doesn’t really fit here but it woke me up and now I can’t sleep. When you go to book readings and conventions, how do people find you? Do you use your pseudonyms or your real names.?
Conventions usually have an official schedule which indicates timings and locations of panels and signings, of course under the name the author is known to their readers 🙂
My wife is 75 and had the option of skipping a year between mammograms, but chose to go ahead and get one almost exactly 12 months after the previous one. It turned out to be the first step in finding an aggressive malignant tumor that could have had horrific consequences if not discovered for another year! She has had surgery and is now halfway through a regimen of chemotherapy, with radiation to follow. Thanks to the early discovery due to the timely mammogram we expect her to have a complete recovery, but this is NOT how we expected to spend our summer and fall. Please, ladies, take Ilona’s advice to heart!
Thanks for the reminder. I’ve been putting off making the appointment, just ’cause when I get home from work I don’t want to deal with phone calls. But I will do it in the morning.
I’m so very sorry. My next mammogram is on Thursday, I have several of what they think are benign cysts in both breasts, so I’m getting a follow-up mammogram at six months. Fortunately, there’s no breast cancer in my family and I know I don’t have the BRCA mutations, so I’m only medium freaked out.
I want to encourage you to decline to watch them and instead request a biopsy. I also had “calcifications” that the radiologist was watching on a six month schedule. Until the day I had to go elsewhere to radiology and this doctor told me to just get them biopsied so I would know. The surgeon said during the biopsy that I had nothing to worry about – they were clearly fibroids! The pathology report identified them as DCIS stage 0. I had a lumpectomy and three weeks of daily radiation.
The point is, I thank that radiologist every day. If you have to have cancer DCIS stage 0 is not bad. I may have spent years with that little seed, watching, because it never occurred to me I had another option.
I had mine on Tuesday!
First time I had mine done in Italy. Here its mandatory that they do an ultrasound as well so I was able to see in real time that my ta-tas are cancer free. I really liked that!
I am a 20-year breast cancer survivor due to a mammogram!
Yearly mammogram – check. Always a big relief.
Pre-order Grace Draven’s “The Moon Raven” – check. Very happy and excited.
Thank you for the reminder, Ilona. My mother passed from breast cancer at 50. I appreciate when you post this every year.
Also that cover is STUNNING. Excited to check Grace’s book out.
I’m getting my first mammogram next year! I’ve been dreading this since I was a teenager and my mom described it to me ha. The peace of mind will be surely worth it.
Yes, screenings are so very important. I’ve had a yearly mammogram every year since I turned 40.
I had a brush with cancer in 2002. My ob/gyn doc found a dermoid cyst on one of my ovaries. “These are never malignant,” he said. Surprise, surprise, it was cancer. They removed everything that could possibly be affected by this type of cancer, which I’m eternally grateful for.
The second brush–more of a whisper– occurred this June. I had a colonoscopy–something I’ve put off for years. The only reason I did it this year was to be supportive of my husband, who had a positive on his Cologard (not sure of the spelling!) test. Well, guess what–I had a pre-cancerous polyp. It was the kind that if left alone, would definitely turn into cancer. The only risk factors I had were age and a genetic anomaly. Neither parent had it, but a sister and a brother of my mother’s had colon cancer. And my husband? The only risk factors he didn’t have were alcohol and tobacco use. He had no polyps whatsoever, thank heavens.
Yes, the prep is draconian, and it took about 2 weeks after the colonoscopy before I felt “normal” again, but it sure as heck is better than having colorectal cancer.
I am a poster child for the value of mammograms. They have saved my life twice. The cancer discovered through a self-exam would not have been discovered, if at all, before it was very late in the process.
Because of those mammograms, I have gotten to enjoy retirement, attend my child’s wedding, hold my brand new grandchild, and stand in my freshly remodeled kitchen while reading a post from my favorite writing duo.
P.S. I trust that your mammogram has come out fine. They don’t let you leave when something is wrong, at least in my experience. An ultrasound will be taken
That you for the reminder. My sister in law has Stage 4 breast cancer. Actually found first in her shoulder muscle. She was lucky enough to qualify for a clinical trial with a new chemo drug. She is still here and doing ok after almost five years. Thanks for the book recommendation about Grace Draven’s new book. Looks amazing!
Hidden Legacies was MEANT to be done in GA. White Hot was amazing and I am so excited for the rest of the series
Experience has made me a firm believer in mammograms. I skipped out on mine for roughly 12 years, because cancer did not run in my family. Ha…my mother passed 2 years ago from colon cancer (which had a strong recovery rate, if she would have gone to a doctor). My then new doctor insisted that I go for a mammogram, and they had me come back due to dense breast tissue. I saw the ultrasound in progress, and even my untrained eyes spotted the weirdness. They found three masses in the right breast. Turns out there were actually four. I had a bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction, and I am a happy, humbled survivor. GET THE DAMNED MAMMO!
In 2016, just a month after meeting you both, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had no symptoms. No lumps or weird texture. I was due for my mammogram which I had missed the year before because my gynecologist retired and I had to find a new one and then wait until they could see me. I was one of the call backs of which only 30% are positive for cancer cells. I was one of the 30%. It turns out I had calcifications that were small like salt crystals, but after my biopsy, we discovered they were cancerous.
I had a bilateral mastectomy, tram flap, and hysterectomy and am alive and cancer free to this day. Get checked ladies. If I had waited this may have had a different outcome!
LOVED White Hot on GA. Binged it this weekend. Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
Mammograms are a priority for me. My grandmother died from breast cancer. I never knew her. I’m not as good about getting those colonoscopies.😩
In the UK Mammogram checks stop when you are 70 which I now am. I was told I now needed to make my own appointment instead of receiving automatic notice
to make one. Do they think I am no longer at risk because of my age!!!? I don’t think so. I will be making appointments you can be Sure of that. My sister’s late mother in law was 98 when she developed breast cancer. As she also suffered from dementia trying to treat her was very difficult as she was no longer able to understand that the doctors were trying to help her as she didn’t even recognise family members any more. She past away a year later.
My mom died of Colon cancer at age 42, she left 2 daughters-10 and 7 years old. She also never met her grandkids.
This is another screening that needs to be done sooner rather than later.
Scheduled- thank you for the nudge! 💖
I’d like to add to this post. My mom died at 43 from breast cancer, my sister was diagnosed at 40 and is a 14 year survivor, and I was diagnosed this year with 2 types of breast cancer with one already being stage 3. I went for mammograms annually since I was 30. They showed I had dense breast tissue but I didn’t think anything of it. Even though my mass was over 7 cm they still had trouble seeing it via mammogram. You have to advocate for yourself. My mother’s doctor told her it was nothing. They never even saw mine. If you have dense breast tissue and a history of breast cancer, advocate for a breast ultrasound or a breast MRI. The ultrasound could see mine, but it was still difficult. After 3 weeks of chemo, my mass had shrunk to 4 cm. The breast surgeon could not see it on sonogram. After 13 weeks, she can no longer feel it. Get checked and make sure it’s the right check before it’s too late. If you think there may be an issue, don’t ignore it, call your doctor right away.
My mom was diagnosed at age 35 with breast cancer in 1972, she had a radical mastectomy, and no recurrence. Her own mother and 2 of 3 sisters had breast cancer diagnoses after age 60. There are 5 of us female siblings, one of my younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50. Now, my sisters and I are all over age 50 and most of us are over 60. 2 sisters were negative for BRCA gene, the rest of us haven’t been tested. My Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment score for breast cancer is 23.25% (all of us sisters have scores over 20%), and my health insurance now covers annual supplemental MRI scanning so I have a mammogram in June and an MRI in December. [No breast cancer on paternal side of the family.] Know your family histories, be vigilant and informed, and yes to regular screenings. Thank you Ilona for the mammogram reminders!💛
I feel we need two trains of comments: first, manage your health and aging- mammograms, colonoscopy, annual heath checkups with blood tests, and if you are sexually active get a Pap test annually!
Second: White Hot by GA is amazing! The actors fit their roles perfectly and Cornelius singing his lament gave me goosebumps. The writing on this series is the author’s best work, integrating battle action with love and family. Thank you!
My mom refused to wear a neck brace after she BROKE HER NECK. And she was a nurse. Thank you for taking care of yourself.
May I also strongly recommend colonoscopies? They are much less grueling to prep for than they used to be, and they can just remove polyps as they do the inspection. Younger people, especially athletes, are now getting cancers that used to be rare for them. DO YOUR SCREENING, BDH!
Mammogram done 2 weeks ago, all good but UltraSound + biopsy done on a weird lymph node in left armpit a week later and yep metastatic cells (uterus cancer) found 🤷♀️- I am metastatic anyhow since February 2024, my last chemo/surgery/radiation were a year + ago so not surprised really just annoyed: metastatic flare-ups are bound to happen. Now waiting for follow-up appointment from oncologist to know the plan of treatment (the wait is the worst!) but it was catch early again, because I insisted on a PET scan at my 6 months and then ….
So go early to your GP if there is something abnormal, do annual checkups (mammogram and FIT (poop) test) and advocate for yourself!
Too many books waiting to be published for me to read to check out early 😁.
Love that cover!
I had a routine mammogram which caught an aggressive cancer early enough that only a lumpextomy was needed. I didn’t make it out the door before I was informed. Sometimes that long wait is good thing. So to everyone. please get you tests regularly, it does work.
sorry about your mother.
my aunt just passed away with stage 4 pancreas cancer last Monday and it’s really hard.
my doctor says for me even to check, I’ll have to have two families on both side to check. which is annoying, my younger aunt had breast cancer, she has to check up every year.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🫂
Thank you for the reminder. I’m getting my annual mammogram this week.
Agreed 100%
Also men over 40 need to get there own annual check. My dad only survived prostate cancer by it being caught very early during a physical 20 years ago he is now 89.
I hope Your loved ones live very long and healthy happy lives.
I asked the mammogram lady yesterday if men got their squidgy bits squished for scans. like we do… 🤣 I was told not common, but they can.
Our doctor is very diligent about things like this. So is our local hospital provider. I always schedule about 3 months in advance because they get booked up and I like to show up mornings. Mammograms are something I always recommend to any and all female friends. Thank you for helping remind people about this valuable checkup.
Funny this email popped up today.. I had my first Mamamliogram (thats how I say it thanks to Eddie from Ab Fab) as a new 50 year old yesterday!
My mother also died from cancer at 51. It was rampant when they finally operated, as it had not shown up in any of the mammos in 1974. It eventually traveled throughout her body. She only saw one of her 1 of her 13 grandchildren. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer twice. The second one was very aggressive, was caught smaller than a grain of salt. It was at stage 00. Mammograms save lives everyday. Yes they can hurt. You would rather die???
I am sorry. This is something I feel very strongly about. If you have a family history, they start them at 30. that works to save lives. Get yours today!
I’m a 12 year breast cancer survivor because of early detection during a mammogram. I was called back for further screening and an ultrasound after my initial “abnormal” mammogram. I was then told I needed a biopsy, which led to my stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosis. It’s a moderately aggressive type of cancer and I needed both chemo and radiation. My recent mammogram, pap smear, and colonoscopy have all shown me to still be cancer free. I heartily endorse the checkups!
Thank you for the reminder. My mother had and beat breast cancer, but I didn’t’t find that out until I was sitting with her in the doctor’s office, many years later, for a 3rd, different type of cancer treatment plan discussion. (Fam: PLEASE share medical histories)
I need to schedule my exam for the year. My primary doctor agreed annual exams are a good idea, based on my mother’s medical history. I have another screening and a lab bloodwork to kick out too. And I should get a shingles booster. I hang my “been too busy” head in shame. Again, thank you for the reminder.
Ravens! Very cool.
I do not have any family history that I know about of breast cancer but I still have my mammograms. At 76 I have little breast tissue left. Getting the mammogram is painful.In my family people die of heart attack, stroke or cancer, As to which cancer you can roll dice. My grandmother died of liver cancer at age 58. My mother died of bowel cancer at 57. One of my great grandmothers died at 50 of cancer, type unspecified. The youngest of her 13 children was about 2 years old.My brother died of bowel cancer at 76 having survived major heart surgery more than a decade before. My sister died of malignant melanoma at 73 after surviving a heart attack some years earlier.My family have been told to be screened regularly from age forty for bowel cancer. I do that.If I had not I would probably not be writing this now. I was lucky. My brother was not. They found his just too late on a routine screening. My daughter in her forties was lucky that her cancer of the uterus was found and dealt with early enough during a check for something else. These were not of course the only members of my wider family who have died of cancer of various types. I pray that the heart attack or the stroke will take me out quickly when my time comes.
I have been enjoying her books as of late all thanks to you! so thank you both. =)
Thank you for the reminder. Mammogram booked. 🙏😊
Absolutely agree, get your tests done! Also, advocate for yourself! At 37 I had a painful lump on the bottom of my breast and had, in earlier years, been told it’s just a cyst and they are going to be painful. It’s normal. I ended up changing OBs to have someone listen and finally was told to go ahead and get a mammogram, even though there wasn’t anything they would do about a painful cyst. They found cancer; it was very small and stage 0, but they realized that there were so many cysts on that breast it would be hard to just take out the little cancer and not worry about the rest turning into cancer later – so I opted for them to just remove them both entirely.
So – the summary of my story – get your screenings, but if you are concerned about something and the doctor doesn’t listen, go to someone that will.
I decided to get a mammogram art 46 since my mother had breast cancer the year before. Bingo they found a small mass in the mammory gland super small so had it removed and radiation. 25 years of mammograms later, another mass in the same breast, just got mastectomy and big tatas at 75. I took it as a sign to glow up a little with eyelid surgery and a lip lift. I deserved it😁. Breast cancer isn’t pleasant, but it doesn’t have to define who you are.
YES! The tech gets better every year, possibly it’s designed by women, and it’s not as uncomfortable as it used to be. It’s nothing now, easy peasy. Get your boob squished for 15 seconds, 3-4 times, once a year. Save your life, live longer, spend more time with your loved ones. I only get one side squished these days, the other one got removed 6 years ago. Now that side’s got the most vibrant, sexy rose you’ve ever seen. My dad’s mother died of breast cancer when he was 8, and my mom had breast cancer, a radical mastectomy and survived, when I was 10 months old. Do the smush, it’s worth it, every damned time.
Mammograms save lives. I run a start up business that makes a breast cancer treatment device and it focuses on treating early stage cancer – still only in the breast. As I’ve traveled the world finding out more about how this insidious disease is managed, I’m so very thankful to be able to get a mammogram. Now I know the treatment for early stage disease is as easy as a single non-invasive painless treatment. We all just get better with diagnosis and treatment over time. Help yourself and those that depend on you by getting one every year.
I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in late January 2022. That started a year of radical double mastectomy (including lymph node removal), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
I had missed an annual mammogram by a couple of months ( 15 months instead of 12) when all 3 of my sisters had been previously diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mine of course was the award winning , double doozy version…. goes to show…
Upshot of this is GET YOUR FU*K**G mammograms.
Look after yourselves because this big bad world will not!
I was lucky that my wonderful husband and my children were there for me. Many do not have that resource.
Be smart… don’t skip a screening that can save your life.