An "Ouch!" of prevention

I knew I had to get it done. A woman my age just doesn’t mess with these things – or at least she shouldn’t! I’d put it off for far too long, but the day finally came that I had to have
… a mammogram.
What can I say about having a mammogram that hasn’t already been said? It’s an unpleasant experience under the best of circumstances, and God willing, that’s as bad as it gets.

Some women would just about rather walk barefoot on broken glass than go for a mammogram. But you go because it’s the right thing to do. You do it, and it’s a small price to pay if you can get those results back that tell you everything’s A-OK. That’s a first-class ticket to a beautiful place called Peace Of Mind.
Really, what are the drawbacks? Let’s take a less-than-serious look at what you’re up against, pun intended.

* It’s one more thing to have to think about in the midst of an already pressing schedule. And finding a spare hour or two can be difficult if you’re slammed at work.
* Once you decide to face the cold, hard facts, you probably won’t be able to get an appointment right away. It might be two months or more before the radiologist can squeeze you in.
* Insurance companies are notorious for pinching every penny they can out of their customers, but for the most part, they will cover the cost of a yearly mammogram. But for the uninsured or under-insured, you’ll have to foot the bill yourself, which is not easy if you’re on a tight budget.
( The folks at the doctor’s office are usually eager to help squash any remaining doubts you may have about being uncomfortable with your exam, which by the way is one test that you don’t have to cram for.)
* It’s an embarrassing walk down the chilly hallway past the other womenfolk in your flimsy robe. “Wear open to the front” is code for this: in the span of that 20-foot march, you’ll be flashing like a neon sign.
* When you finally make it to the dreaded apparatus, just keep in mind that the technician who runs the machine has handled this task about a thousand times, and she’s probably having about as much fun as you are!

All kidding aside, if you’re a woman over 40, it’s a preventative measure you shouldn’t put off. I fussed and fretted and worried about it for months. But actually, except for the outdated magazines, my mammogram wasn’t all that bad. The women there were all experienced, friendly and professional. And on a pain scale of 1 to 100, 100 being breast cancer, this was about a 2. You do the math.
Playlist:
1. Hurt – Johnny Cash
2. Put It Off Until Tomorrow – Loretta Lynn
3. It Takes Two – Marvin Gaye
4. Pushin’ Too Hard – The Seeds
5. Hold Me Tight – The Beatles
6. Try a Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
7. Squeeze Box – The Who
8. Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie
9. Hurt So Bad – Little Anthony & The Imperials
10. Big Iron – Marty Robbins