I got a (wake up) call today from Kaiser saying it’s time to come in for a mammogram. The recorded message went on about the importance of early detection and how effective mammograms are as an early breast cancer detection method.

I know there are other less invasive methods of getting screened, but those aren’t touted as more effective. I mean who really wants to have a mammogram done? Who really wants to have their boobs squished (multiple ways) between COLD metal plates for an x-ray? Last time I had this done, they found something concerning and had me WAIT and have all of the pictures redone. That meant getting cold and squished twice! I guess it was better to wait there for awhile and redo things than go home and worry and then come back. Of course, by that time, every possible bad thought had already gone through my head. What would I look like bald? I don’t know, I don’t really want to think about that; but I would handle it like everything else – I would face it head on at the time I needed to. And I would probably knit a hat in the meantime!

The latest Susan G. Komen for the Cure ad I saw said:

“Less Talk. More Action.

Early detection saves lives. The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer when caught early is 98%. When it’s not? 23%”

I made my appointment to get screened – what about you? (At least those of you who are female and over 40?)