Yesterday I shared about switching veterinarians to avoid having to drive out of our own county to get shots for our dogs. Mammograms, though, still require a drive. We don’t have a mammography facility in our county.
So once a year, I drive a half hour one county to our south and plop the girls on the cold machine to be pressed flat like hot paninis in an iron press at 90 and 45 degree angles – top to bottom and side to side -and imaged for a health inspection. And the drive isn’t bad. It’s not all that ironic that I drive across two large hills to get there, and one is so tall that no one on a cell phone can get over it without dropping the call. I park and enter the hospital, where I already have my driver’s license and insurance card in hand for the paperwork. I get my plastic ID bracelet and then go down to Radiation and Imaging, where I check in and change into a flowery cape that opens in the front.
When I’m changed, I step into the next room for the procedure. This is the reason I always switch to decaf coffee two weeks before coming, and the reason I take Evening Primrose – – to lessen the pain of the fibrocystic tissue that is aggravated by caffeine and eased by the primrose capsules.
I always leave wanting pancakes after this procedure, simply because that’s what comes to mind. I think that IHOP should e-hop on board and partner with preventive breast screening marketing by giving women a free pancake breakfast once a year after enduring the double-digit pounds of compression. Surely they could come up with a new pancake to help support breast cancer research. We could scan our hospital bracelets for the free pancakes and sit in silence, sopping them around in the syrup as we recover from the stress of it all, sipping decaf.
Have you had your mammogram this year? If not, it’s time to schedule it!
Common Threads 
Kim, I love the idea of free pancakes following the mammogram. My imaging center is also 30 minutes away, but they treat you like you are at the spa. Efficient, too, in and out in less than the time it takes me to get there. Thanks for sharing your experience and advocating for mammograms. I also have to get the ultrasound (thick breast tissue). It is all worth it because not all cancers have an effective screening. Breast cancer does, so we should do it.
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Thank you, Margaret! I always dread it but early detection is the key.
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Kim,
This is an important reminder. No, I have not had a mammogram this year. In fact, I haven’t had one in several years. I’ve had two biopsies, and to be honest, I was told I needed another last time I had a mammogram, but here’s the thing: Extra mammograms are expensive, and biopsies are, too. The lady one, around a decade ago, cost $10k, and my share was $2,500. I can only imagine what they cost now, so I’m taking my chances and not getting yet another costly procedure I probably don’t need.
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Glenda, I can sure understand the expense factor! Our insurance covers one free screening per year, so I always take advantage of it and my two free dental cleanings. Thanks for reading today!
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Oh, Kim, I laughed so many times here! Like: “plop the girls on the cold machine to be pressed flat like hot paninis in an iron press” Oh, my! And IHOP and preventive breast cancer marketing getting together is genius. I need to make that appointment, so thanks for the reminder.
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Denise, I think we need pink pancakes. Two served side by side on a plate for extra imaging! Thanks for reading!
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I love so much about your slice. I tink you should seriously consider sending your idea to the marketing department of IHOP. I was to schedule mine this summer and didn’t. And I actually can walk just 2 blocks to the hospital for the appt and walk 6 blocks afterwards to the IHOP. Your slice has inspired me. I’m getting mine scheduled. Thank you.
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I love that you can walk places! In the country, we have to drive for miles and miles. Thanks for reading today!
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My appointment is coming up soon. My mother had breast cancer three separate times in her life. So thankful for early detection and treatments that allowed her to have a long life, with good health in between.
The IHOP idea us great!
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Thank you for reading, Diane! I have a friend who is here this year because she had a mammogram last year that detected stage 2 breast cancer. She has had chemo, radiation, and surgery and just came back to work last week. She is here and she is a survivor because of early detection. I’m so glad your mom had the gift of time as well!
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