? for the TCS Women, guys you won't know the answer ;)

sashacat421 · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Elizabeth does Ari not mean about examining yourself?!.

I check mine every month whereas my friend never examined herself so she never found it until it was too late

I think she's saying that she hears stuff that self-exams are not worth it? I read her sentence 3 times.... and I concur with you that you have to. There has been some talk in the media here in the U.S. (anything for hype over here) that because the imaging is so advanced now, that self-exams aren't the best way to go as you can miss a lot....but then the next day whoever said that in the media got slammed as self-exams ARE the way to go if you do them right AND get the mammograms too!

ash_bct · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by mferr84

... as for the ob-gyn, i go once a year for everything... if you are high risk i could see them wanting you to come in every six months...

i am very glad your friends lump was benign!

very good news!

Me too! Thank you!

Thats the reason I seem to think that every 6 months is a bit much, there is NO history whatsoever in my family that puts me at high risk.

Thanks everyone!

I guess you do learn something new everyday... I had no idea men could get breast cancer

pinkdaisy226 · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by sashacat421

I think she's saying that she hears stuff that self-exams are not worth it? I read her sentence 3 times.... and I concur with you that you have to. There has been some talk in the media here in the U.S. (anything for hype over here) that because the imaging is so advanced now, that self-exams aren't the best way to go as you can miss a lot....but then the next day whoever said that in the media got slammed as self-exams ARE the way to go if you do them right AND get the mammograms too!

That was what I meant... but maybe I was wrong. I thought I remember reading about something/hearing something in the news that it was proven that self exams don't do much but I can't find that so forget I said anything. Sorry!

sashacat421 · Mar 2, 2005

oh hunny it's ok. There's so much crapola out there about anything these days as it is!

rockcat · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by ash_bct

Me too! Thank you!

Thats the reason I seem to think that every 6 months is a bit much, there is NO history whatsoever in my family that puts me at high risk.

Me either, but I was having paps every 6 months when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Not pre-cancerous cells - I had to have a hysteroctemy at 32 years old. I was told that cervical cancer was very slow growing and should have been noticed earlier since I was having paps so regularly.

The thing that they don't tell you is the people who read the pap smears are overworked and things can be missed.

Ladies, its important.

fwan · Mar 2, 2005

My titties are soft

fwan · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Me either, but I was having paps every 6 months when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Not pre-cancerous cells - I had to have a hysteroctemy at 32 years old. I was told that cervical cancer was very slow growing and should have been noticed earlier since I was having paps so regularly.

The thing that they don't tell you is the people who read the pap smears are overworked and things can be missed.

Ladies, its important.

really?
My omther had cervical cancer and the doctor said i was a miracle that i was made a year later.

Do you have children?

sashacat421 · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Me either, but I was having paps every 6 months when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Not pre-cancerous cells - I had to have a hysteroctemy at 32 years old. I was told that cervical cancer was very slow growing and should have been noticed earlier since I was having paps so regularly.

The thing that they don't tell you is the people who read the pap smears are overworked and things can be missed.

Ladies, its important.

Yeah that too! Because I never had a real mom, a lot of my own female education was left up to me (hey Dad, can I have some money to go buy a bra?) so I found out that cervical and a more deadly and undetectable cancer, ovarian cancer, are by far the hardest to track and that we, as women, can start asking for things if we just know what to ask! For example, when they do your pap, you can ask your OB/GYN to also have the lab run a CA 125. That is the test for Ovarian cancer. Gilda Radner died because they detected it too late. It has almost no symptoms and no outward affects.
The CA 125 is about $125 US but most insurance companies will cover it to the same pay out as a pap, if the doc codes the insurance billing the right way. Just a fyi ~~ to chat w/your doc about this too.

sofiecusion · Mar 2, 2005

I knew a girl from my college who died of ovarian cancer at age 20!!! She found out she had cancer in November and she died in March.....after that we ALL learned that despite age and sexual activity it is VERY important to get those yearly exams!!!

mom of franz · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by darkeyedgirl

Although I don't have enough to even matter, my OBGYN examines the lil things once a year. Breast cancer runs in my family so of course they consider me a candidate.

My doc is also extra-vigilant, he always reminds me to make sure while I'm in the shower I feel around & stuff. I don't need to feel the things honestly. The Lord blessed me with a flat chest and a big butt.

Please Darkeyedgirl, that's a myth that small breasted women don't have to worry about breast cancer. You should check monthly. Keep in mind, cancer cells don't have eyes, they don't care or know if you are flat or busty.

mom of franz · Mar 2, 2005

I'm going to tell you guys a wonderful true story. About 10 years ago I had a patient that was 102. She broke her hip, but mentally she was very alert. When she was about sixty they discovered breast cancer in BOTH her breasts. There wasn't much post treatment to be had in those days, so she had a bilateral radical mastectomy only. So here she was over forty years later a survivor of breast cancer! When you think about that, and how breast cancer is one of the most curable cancers if caught early TODAY, it's imperative to do monthly BSE and have those mamograms once you reach forty. It's funny when you think about it, my patient probably lived longer than the surgeon who operated on her. Okay, I'll take off my nurse's cap (for now!)

sashacat421 · Mar 2, 2005

Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

....... Keep in mind, cancer cells don't have eyes, they don't care or know if you are flat or busty.

eburgess · Mar 2, 2005

I've been told start self exams at 20, mamograms at 35. If you have a family hisotry like i do they say go in at 30.

binkx · Mar 2, 2005

Actually I do know the answer. You check when you get them on a regular bases at home. Showers are a good place because they are relaxing.

Now on a simliar note I had a friend die at a young age from breast cancer. How young? 24!and she was a great singer. So This September we are having a battle of the bands and charging 5.00 to get in. All proceeds go to cancer charities. This will be done in her name. I really miss her so please check regularly ladies. Oh and men can get it too.

KittenKrazy · Mar 2, 2005

And while we're on the subject, those yearly pap smears and exams can catch other things too, ladies! I wound up having a hysterectomy at 35, two years ago this month, due to severely large fibroid tumors. Had I not skipped my gyno exam for about 10 years straight, these might have been found earlier and treated in a much less invasive manner, instead of having gotten to the point where surgery was the only option left!

rockcat · Mar 3, 2005

Originally Posted by fwan

really?
My omther had cervical cancer and the doctor said i was a miracle that i was made a year later.

Do you have children?

Just Oliver & Tripod.

It used to bother me, but I'm ok with it now.

rockcat · Mar 3, 2005

Originally Posted by sashacat421

Yeah that too! Because I never had a real mom, a lot of my own female education was left up to me (hey Dad, can I have some money to go buy a bra?) so I found out that cervical and a more deadly and undetectable cancer, ovarian cancer, are by far the hardest to track and that we, as women, can start asking for things if we just know what to ask! For example, when they do your pap, you can ask your OB/GYN to also have the lab run a CA 125. That is the test for Ovarian cancer. Gilda Radner died because they detected it too late. It has almost no symptoms and no outward affects.
The CA 125 is about $125 US but most insurance companies will cover it to the same pay out as a pap, if the doc codes the insurance billing the right way. Just a fyi ~~ to chat w/your doc about this too.

I wonder why this test is not a common thing. I never knew about it. What do they actually do when you are tested? Great info! Thanks!

squirtle · Mar 3, 2005

Originally Posted by annabelle33

I started doing the self exams in highschool after watching some video. It's not a huge deal and its pretty simple so why not. I get paps once a year but now my dr wants them twice a year but my insurance only covers one a year so I'm dodging the 6 month one... It's wrong I know but my cells are always abnormal thanks to my bf so all of my paps come back bad and all of my biopsies come back ok.

How does bf make them come back abnormal? (Hope thats not a dumb question). My last one came back abnormal and I have to go in for a recheck. Everyone has told me not to worry because it isn't unusual for one to come back abnormal occasionally.

cazx01 · Mar 3, 2005

i check for lumps, and i did find one just before xmas, ans i was thinking the worst stc, but i went to the doctors and she assured me it was not cancerous thank god!
as for a smear i've never had one.

rosiemac · Mar 3, 2005

*Yells* CARRIE!!!!

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