Last month, I was sitting on the patio of The Wine Shop at Foxcroft with girlfriends enjoying a well-deserved night off. Another girlfriend of ours walked up to the table and her sister-in-law immediately started telling us that she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Our jaws hit the floor. She was just like us. This was too close to home. She was the unlucky 1 in 8.
She seemed to talk incessantly about how the new 3D mammogram had just saved her life. Her cancer was caught very early. The only reason she was scheduled for this high level mammogram was due to dense breast tissue and she was convinced that a regular mammogram would not have detected her cancer yet. This is why she decided that it was her mission to tell everyone she knows that they should spend the $50 out of pocket and get yourself a good baseline mammogram. Well I did just that. And took her advice a step further and I scheduled my overdue gyno annual and my even more overdue dermatology full body scan and lastly my regular physical that I’ve had like, NEVER. This was my reality check that I needed in my life for me to remember to take a step back and TAKE CARE OF ME for a change. Much easier said than done when you are a busy mama of four, but there are no good excuses.
So here’s the deal. This 3D mammogram (Tomosynthesis) is offered at Charlotte Radiology at CMC Pineville. My appointment took 20 minutes. Seriously ladies, 20 minutes start to finish. On top of that, it really felt like I was at the spa. Somebody was thinking when they decorated this serene waiting area! When I first went back, I was told to change into a gown and I found myself hooked on the latest argument on The View. I kinda wanted to stay a little longer to see the outcome! I then went into the room to get, yes, my boobs squished to no end. But not unbearable. Just awkward and pinches just a bit. But we’ve all given birth – this is like a walk in the park. After that, you get dressed and go on your way. There is a waiting game for your results. They tell you that if you don’t hear from them in 10 days, you’re pretty much good to go for now.
I’m happy to report, I did not get a call. I can breathe a sigh of relief for the time-being. I will continue to do my monthly breast exams and you can bet that I’ll be paying extra for my future annual 3D mammograms. I encourage you to do the same. Why not? The technology is here and I’m not playing around when it comes to joining this pink movement.
Thank you, Charlotte Radiology, for blazing these pink trails.
You can find Charlotte Radiology’s 3D Tomosynthesis at:
Charlotte Radiology
Pineville Breast Center
10650 Park Road, Suite 280
Charlotte, NC 28210
Monroe Breast Center
1550 Faulk Street, Suite 1200
Monroe, NC 28112
Huntersville Breast Center
16455 Statesville Road, Suite 110-B
Huntersville, NC 28078
