How bad is it to not do a mammogram?

[Anonymous]

I always go to Washington radiology but after I made my last appt discovered they wouldn’t take my new insurance. I called community radiology and they said yes so I scheduled there. I just had to request records from WR for comparison. It took 5 minutes online. If you’ve never had one, you won’t even have that inconvenience. You simply need to call a different mammogram provider and ask. I suspect you might be looking for an excuse to delay (I have medical anxiety and find myself doing that with a lot of things) but I assure you a mammogram is usually a very quick in and out process and the odds are in your favor you’ll have benign results. If you don’t, it will be much better to know sooner rather than later so you have a better outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

Of course it's your choice. I just happen to think it's a foolish one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what your insurance is and where you are and someone can tell you if you’re in network. I’ve always been happy with Washington Radiology - for mammograms, breast MRIs because I have family history and a gene mutation that increases my chances, a needle biopsy for something they found, and a thyroid scan. But I have friends who strongly prefer Sibley for this.

Please do this. My sister canceled her scheduled mammogram because she had just broken her driving foot so getting anywhere was a PITA, and by the time she went back a couple years later she had three tumors and needed a double mastectomy and chemo. My stepmother stopped getting them too early and ended up with breast cancer that was controlled after surgery and chemo and radiation but later came back and killed her.

Please tell me about a breast MRI at Washington Radiology. I typically have mammograms there, which are fine, but OB suggested an MRI due to dense breast tissue. I have been dreading this and putting it off because I hate the thought of an MRI.

PO here and if you aren’t claustrophobic it’s long/loud/annoying but not that bad. You have to lay still inside the machine for a bit - maybe 15 minutes? - on your stomach. They have you headphones to help with the noise and a reflector so you can “look out the window” even though you’re in the tube. This is at WRA in Friendship Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

Of course it's your choice. I just happen to think it's a foolish one.

If you always do the most risk averse and responsible thing in life, 100% of the time no exceptions, good for you.

If you don't and are a human being, then you can be quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'll be fine. In Switzerland and most of Europe it's normal to wait until 50. Mammograms are pushed in the US because of insurance $$

No, insurance companies lose money because they are mandated to pay for mammography. (Thank you Oresiddnt Obama)

At a population level, it is based upon how many lives would have to be saved to justify the expense. That is a bureaucratic decision.

Countries with nationalized health systems ration based on cost. It's indeed a bureaucratic decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

I don’t think anyone is being “militant”. If you know and understand your risks, then that’s all good. At least several PPs don’t seem to fully understand their risks. Most breast cancers are not genetic, so not having family history just means you’re at baseline population risk (which is about 1/8), not zero. And not drinking or smoking doesn’t mean zero risk either - ask me how I know.

OP is not even 45, which is when the recommendation for annual mammograms start. She's at the age where some people choose to start getting them and others don't, and the American Cancer Society doesn't even recommend them annually. So yes, I would say scolding her and acting like she's playing fast and loose with her life for essentially following the prevailing medical wisdom on this screening is "militant."

It is no big deal that OP hasn't had a mammogram yet. The very fact that she is thinking about it at her age indicates that she's in good shape. And I would bet that most of the people screening her, telling her she's being irresponsible or negligent, and trying to scare her with stories of women missing a single mammogram and then being diagnosed with irreversible cancer, all do one thing or another (including drinking, smoking, not getting proper sleep, poor diet, insufficient exercise, etc.) that increases their medical risk for all kinds of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, where did you try to schedule? It seems like a place like Washington Radiology takes pretty much everything - it’s like a cattle call so I get that some people may feel disrespected. And more uncomfortable for some than for others, especially depending on where you are in your cycle - try to not schedule in the last week or two depending on how sensitive your breasts get in luteal phase. But go do it.

I had my scan last month at Washington Radiology. Got an early appt, filled out the paperwork in advance and was in and out in 20 mins. I usually feel very faint during and after these scans but not this time. The tech was very good.

I know I sound like a commercial but it honestly was much less uncomfortable than I was dreading it would be.

Pls go, OP.

I had one at Washington Radiology (the one in Friendship Heights) this week. Super fast, not painful, and the tech was very good. I've been going there the last decade or so and have always had a good experience. The staff are also good about the mechanics. At my appointment they didn't have the order from my doctor so they called and had it faxed over immediately. They should be able to sort through your insurance issue.

Just FYI that I switched from Sibley to WRA because insurance had better coverage for WRA since it isn't in a hospital. I had a high copay at Sibley. So check your policy to see if it matters where you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what your insurance is and where you are and someone can tell you if you’re in network. I’ve always been happy with Washington Radiology - for mammograms, breast MRIs because I have family history and a gene mutation that increases my chances, a needle biopsy for something they found, and a thyroid scan. But I have friends who strongly prefer Sibley for this.

Please do this. My sister canceled her scheduled mammogram because she had just broken her driving foot so getting anywhere was a PITA, and by the time she went back a couple years later she had three tumors and needed a double mastectomy and chemo. My stepmother stopped getting them too early and ended up with breast cancer that was controlled after surgery and chemo and radiation but later came back and killed her.

Please tell me about a breast MRI at Washington Radiology. I typically have mammograms there, which are fine, but OB suggested an MRI due to dense breast tissue. I have been dreading this and putting it off because I hate the thought of an MRI.

PO here and if you aren’t claustrophobic it’s long/loud/annoying but not that bad. You have to lay still inside the machine for a bit - maybe 15 minutes? - on your stomach. They have you headphones to help with the noise and a reflector so you can “look out the window” even though you’re in the tube. This is at WRA in Friendship Heights.

PP thanks. I'm extremely claustrophobic and this is what I was afraid of!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Breast cancer is probably the one cancer that I never worry about. I may be delusional but I have zero family history on either side.

I've had regular mammograms and never had a horrible experience but the last one hurt and I thought then that I might never do it again.

I was the exact same way, never gave breast cancer a thought. And then I was diagnosed with it at 47. No family history on either side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

I don’t think anyone is being “militant”. If you know and understand your risks, then that’s all good. At least several PPs don’t seem to fully understand their risks. Most breast cancers are not genetic, so not having family history just means you’re at baseline population risk (which is about 1/8), not zero. And not drinking or smoking doesn’t mean zero risk either - ask me how I know.

OP is not even 45, which is when the recommendation for annual mammograms start. She's at the age where some people choose to start getting them and others don't, and the American Cancer Society doesn't even recommend them annually. So yes, I would say scolding her and acting like she's playing fast and loose with her life for essentially following the prevailing medical wisdom on this screening is "militant."

It is no big deal that OP hasn't had a mammogram yet. The very fact that she is thinking about it at her age indicates that she's in good shape. And I would bet that most of the people screening her, telling her she's being irresponsible or negligent, and trying to scare her with stories of women missing a single mammogram and then being diagnosed with irreversible cancer, all do one thing or another (including drinking, smoking, not getting proper sleep, poor diet, insufficient exercise, etc.) that increases their medical risk for all kinds of things.

In the US, the recommended age to start mammograms is 40.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never understood “mammos are awful”. Had me scared for my first one. It lasted all of 3 min?? It wasn’t painful more so slightly uncomfortable. I’m 39 and just had my first one done after my dr suggested I get one because my mom was recently diagnosed with BC. They found something and now I need a biopsy. I have no other symptoms. Go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what your insurance is and where you are and someone can tell you if you’re in network. I’ve always been happy with Washington Radiology - for mammograms, breast MRIs because I have family history and a gene mutation that increases my chances, a needle biopsy for something they found, and a thyroid scan. But I have friends who strongly prefer Sibley for this.

Please do this. My sister canceled her scheduled mammogram because she had just broken her driving foot so getting anywhere was a PITA, and by the time she went back a couple years later she had three tumors and needed a double mastectomy and chemo. My stepmother stopped getting them too early and ended up with breast cancer that was controlled after surgery and chemo and radiation but later came back and killed her.

Please tell me about a breast MRI at Washington Radiology. I typically have mammograms there, which are fine, but OB suggested an MRI due to dense breast tissue. I have been dreading this and putting it off because I hate the thought of an MRI.

I get them every 6-9 months at WRA (alternate with mammograms). It takes around 20 minutes in the machine but they pull you out halfway through to do the contrast. The plus is that you are face down so it doesn't seem as claustrophobic (at least to me). In the Friendship Heights location you can actually look outside and see the shops across the street and people walking around. You can also signal them to pull you out if you are starting to feel claustrophobic.

I believe that last time they offered some kind of alternate scan, maybe an abbreviated MRI?, but it wasn't covered by insurance so I didn't do it. But might be worth looking into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you call and schedule?

OP - because I first need to call my insurance and figure out why they said I was out of network. I hate talking with insurance. It takes forever.

Do you have an app? The app usually lets you find in-network.

Also for my mammograms, I need an actual order from my doctor. And I have to bring the order. I usually don’t have this with other specialists/tests, but for some reason scheduling a mammogram is kind of annoying.

Moreover, if you use Inova My Chart the system has a glitch and won’t let you do it online. So I had to call and wait on hold for 15 minutes and then answer questions about my breasts with some random dude on the line. He was still respectful, but it sure was annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'll be fine. In Switzerland and most of Europe it's normal to wait until 50. Mammograms are pushed in the US because of insurance $$

Citation? And I think it’s fair to assume that in Switzerland and most of Europe there are different risk factors and risk profiles.

Also, I don’t see how insurance would make gobs of money off of a diagnostic exam like a breast exam when the co-pay is usually zero for something like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

I’m not trying to be intrusive, but how do you get to this age and not have a Pap smear? Have you just been a virgin the whole time? Or just use condoms and never had any sort of STD screening?

Because even with the HPV vaccine, not all strains are covered.