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After enduring many mammograms over the years I recently had my first digital breast tomosynthesis also known as 3-D Mammography. Mammograms are always scary, the squishing and pain and waiting for results.
The White House was lit up pink on Thursday night in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which comes to a close next week.
Too often, I encounter a newly-diagnosed, frightened woman who doesn't know that the choice for treatment is hers to make. Her surgeon, medical oncologist, and the radiation oncologist are all there to help guide her, but ultimately the decision should be -- must be -- hers.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHAT'S HAPPENING
With more people talking about "Angelina Jolie Surgery," it's hard to ignore the parallels to Tommy John. How wonderful it is that, due to marvelous advances in medicine, so many patients "get to have" these operations and remain strong, beautiful and productive for many years to come.
We need more. We need more options than losing our breasts, ovaries and other organs. Surely the conversation on breast cancer prevention has to be more involved than this?
Breast cancer does not differentiate between religions or ethnicities. And because awareness of the disease in Bosnia lags far behind that of other Western nations and cancer detection facilities are fewer and less advanced, survival rates tend to be markedly lower than elsewhere.
The year 2011 was, in short, the worst year of my life... a year that changed just about every part of my life. But here it is, Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2012, and I feel mostly good.
Talk with your doctor about the Gail Model and find out what your level of risk for breast cancer is. And get a mammogram.
You should think before you pink, as you might before giving to any solicitor of charitable funds. But let's not argue about the color and the ribbon which was, 20 years ago, an emblem of openness about a disease that women were afraid to mention out loud.
