I changed my mind about Pink awarness month-here's why:

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

Liz,

Sorry to hear how these screens didn't seem to serve you either. I am quite surprised the mammo/us combo also seemed to miss it.

Let's hope we are on the road to recovery. I just think it is important to warn women, even if they think they are safe after a mammo, insist on more test if they have dense breasts cause the dense radiologists do not.

Joanne

Anonymous · October 2007

"I just think it is important to warn women, even if they think they are safe after a mammo, insist on more test if they have dense breasts cause the dense radiologists do not.

Joanne"

Laughing Sorry, Joanne, but I had to laugh at that statement.

Before the "suggestion" of doing MRIs on people like us (LOL), I said something to one of the onc's PAs about MRIs. She said, that's the radiologist's call. I was so angry when she said that. I said in a not so nice tone of voice, Yell THE RADIOLOGIST'S CALL!!?? (repeat)

I HAVE A DENSE BREAST (only have one breast left and it's still dense )! She looked at my mammo report that I had just brought to her and said, yes, you do have a dense breast. DUH! I don't believe she even looked at that part of the report just the part that said it was "normal." Yell

Shirley

LizFL · October 2007

I'm not so sure I would have paid attention to articles suggesting additional testing to the mammo/us....I also don't know if my cancer was missed or just grew quickly....and it doesn't really matter now since knowing wouldn't bring my breast back. I would like to see more research into better detection and of course a cure. I think the message has to get out there, but I really dread Pink Month. It just makes BC seem so cute and fluffy or something...I do notice that it bothers me less each year. I know it really irritated me when I was in treatment. I swore I would throw something through the TV set if I saw one more smiley faced Neulasta ad with those happy people spouting how they were ready to fight their cancer.

Liz

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

My cancer was missed by mammograms for years according to Dr Weiss, the founder of this site. Mammograms suck ! I would most definitely gone for better tests had I know of them, had they been made available.

I hate the pink ribbons since they act as if this is a cutesy, feminine disease. It is not, it is a horrofying, terrorfying, sometimes lethal disease.

I would like to see more than 3% of the NCI budget go to prevention research, then we would not need a cure.

Joanne

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

Okay I must have been wrong about mammograms. My surgeon's office just sent me a script for bilateral mammograms. Hmmmm I thought he was the guy that chopped one off! They obviously have a secret way of doing these tests and reading the results. Should be interesting. LOL !

Joanne

rumoret · October 2007

My mother had her mamo 3 months prior to getting breast cancer...never saw a thing. My girlfriend was 9 months prior.....never saw a thing. And mine was much longer 4 years....but radiologist said they probably would have never seen it......boobs very WHITE......he showed me on my digital mamo on his computer. Thank God all three of us felt our boobs......and we were the ones who discovered our lumps.

Yesterday my sister had 3 lumps removed from her left breast.....she refused the needle biopsy. The surgeon said it look benign......but next week we will no for sure. She had these lumps prior to me finding my own back in Jan. 2006. I had been on her case regularly to get them biopsied.....yesterday she did.....and I hope the surgeon is correct on them look benign.

I have 5 sisters.....and many nieces in their 20 - 30s.......I reinforce monthly self breast exams......and I am sure they all get tired of me telling them so. I hope none of them have to experience BC.....but I will never shut-up.......and because of that.....my sister finally got her lumps taken out! I told her at least she could put to rest any worrying she might have been doing for the last 2 years.

Love,

Terry

JoanofArdmore · October 2007

Hi Dottie,

I have a whine.

Since you educated me about pink month and bc awareness,and all the good it can do, I've been pleased each time a merchant sells pink stuff.

I was just in the supermarket: they are selling pretty nice insulated drink holders, some w/black lids, some w/pink.One dollar goes to BC research.

I knlw some say this is a pittance etc etc, but I now feel it's good.AND EVERYONE is donating somethinmg, everyone.It's kinda touching.

So I went to the GAP to look for sweatpants.Mine are getting pretty thin where ugh(the thighs rub).

And was amazed to find no pink bc display.

I did find nice pants.And up at the counter, buying them, was annoyed to find the same ol' same ol' red ribbon Aids-in-Africa display.

There was a dude at the register.

I said, "Yo.It's October."

He looked at me dully.

I go, "Well I know the African Aids cause is very Bono and all, but cant GAP give a BC awareness display?"He stares at me, a little frightened, and muttered--"It's a corporate decision."

So NOW I'm angry!I wrote to GAP.

As an old warhorse, I know it was wrong to decry policy AND buy from them.But I needed the pants.

Anonymous · October 2007

But what's the alternative? Digital mammos (heck ANY mammo!) and MRI's beat the heck out of the other option wihich is...wait - there isn't one. I hear you about being lulled into a false sense of security with a clear mammo, but I think about the women who did go, were unfortunate enough (or fortunate enough, depending on how you look at it) to have found something and got treatment.

MRI's won't be the standard of detection for quite a while, I think. They are just too expensive and insurance companies are not going to go for to such a bottom-line affecting change when there is an alternative. It sux to be at the mercy of the insurance companies, but we all know that. So I guess maybe we should be demanding better screening techniques that won't cost so much the insurance companies flat out say "no." After all, if early detection is the best thing we've got, it seems like someone should be trying a little harder to detect bc earlier, imho.

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

You put it succinctly. Come up with a better test. We can put people on the moon but can't come up with a test to tell there are tumors and inch below my skin? Hmmmmm ... I guess we are the low priority here.

btw - an ultrsound, relatively cheap, would have shown mine, but the idiot radiologists never did one. Hence I have no breast, and who knows how much life?

Joanne

Anonymous · October 2007

I didn't have an ultrasound the year I found my lump. But I've had them about three times. And if this cancer is indeed growing for about eight years the US didn't find it. And don't forget. The MRI didn't find the second lump (1 cm) after I had chemo before I had my mast. I don't trust any of the tools we have right now. I am happy that mammos work for many women. I just hope the radiologists that look at my mammo are reminded that I had bc before and look very closely, VERY CLOSELY!

Shirley

iodine · October 2007

The reason I'm in favor of "pink month' is NOT selling all the crap, I am not in favor of THAT!

I am in favor of AWARNESS, of women noting to ck out their boobs and becomming aware that women and men are dying of bc every year.

As far as mammos. I truly regret all of you who were not dx's by them or us's. It is a very sad state of affairs that this is true. I am also so sad for young women who are blown off as too young to have bc and even more sad for those with very rare forms of bc who are not dx's because the docs have not seen those kinds of bc and will not listen to to their patients or ask for consults with docs who may know more than they.

I was dx'd with mammo and confirmed with us and bx. Without those I would have never known I had bc. We were following microcals in the Other breast. My bc was 1.9cm. Now, I could get all up in arms that they should have seen it the year before and yes, comparing it to the previous year it was almost possible to see it. 20/20 hindsight, you know. But I don't. I'm just damn glad they found it.

What I think is the right thing is for us to encourage every woman we have the opportunity to speak with is to ask them to do SBE and get a mammo. If they find some change in their breasts, for them to be proactive to get tested until they feel they have ALL their questions ans. and feel comfortable with the ans.

Anonymous · October 2007

Talking about pink...I believe on the 17th QVC is having their half off designer show sale. All profits go to bc. I haven't bought any, but I believe the shoes go real fast.

Shirley

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

The breast cancer industry counts on us to be thankful " they found it", thankful they have these god awful treatments. How about we start demanding they clean up our environment and stop causing these cancers?

How about we start demanding they have better screening methods that work in the 99% of women?

Joanne

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

Now this sounds like what we need - if the stats are true, this has a much higher success rate than breast x-rays. Wonder why they aren't marketing it here?

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic/7/conversation/693060?page=2#comment_718876

Kate0508 · October 2007

Hi- I'm guilty of ignoring my breast health. My poor excuses: $$$, no family hx on mother's side - even though family hx on father's side, putting off getting mammogram without realizing seven-years passed since last mammo, etc. All poor excuses, but mine nonetheless.

Now, I'm waiting for results of a core needle biopsy performed on Friday. Should have the results on 23 Oct., if not sooner [maybe tomorrow at my family physician office visit?]

All of a sudden, I'm seeing PINK everywhere. The day of my core biopsy, DH & I ate at the Hard Rock Cafe after the procedure and when DH paid the bill, the waitress asked if we'd like to donate to Breast Cancer Research - which DH did. They also told us to check out the Breast Cancer Awareness Items in their gift shop before we left the restaurant. We skipped that part. Maybe next time.

There is no good excuse for ignoring my health.

KaTe

joanne_elizabeth · October 2007

Kate,

Stop beating yourself up!

Money is a big concern in a "civilized" country with no universal health insurance.

The things they tell you like having kids later and drinking,etc ignore the huge issue and effectively try to place the blame on the victim. Why is this at epidemic proportions in the U.S? What is it in industrialized countries that is making so many women sick?

The question is - why are so many women like you going through this?

What is being done for prevention here?

Joanne

Annabella58 · October 2007

Hi, Anniebelle here, I changed it because when diagnosed 6 years ago, I have been so innundated with it, that it was literally impossible to find something else to think about. For my wellbeing and that of my family, we needed a break from all the reminders...daily life and constant dr. visits do that!

Just had my 6 year mammo, and don't you know, the girls acted up.

They thought there was a problem in the lymph nodes, had an MRI, no nodes are just fine...but there is a 1 cm. spot in the same breast that the tech called "highly suspicious"...so I am a wreck. Can't get into see surgeon til monday, and am sooooo hoping it is one of those famous false positives they have so many of these days with MRIs.

My surgeons' wife has had two. Still, I am going to insist on a biopsy and get a definitive answer.

Anyone else have anything comforting to offer vis a vis having false positives? I've had clear blood work, just got off tamoxifen, fibroids out the wazoo which dont' show up on mammograms, so i am thinking this thing is a fibroid, but best to be sure.

I could use some encouraging words to get thru the weekend........

thanks!

I changed my mind about Pink awarness month-here's why:

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