|
11 Jul 08 - 05:17 PM (#2386927) Subject: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing Without a womb since 1979, having herbalised myself through Men O'Pause, I don't see much relevancy for visiting an ob/gyn any more and, in fact, haven't been to one in many, many years. I am curious as to how other Mudcat wimmin may feel about this and what their experiences have been, if they feel like sharing. I am not as concerned about whether to have my boobs smashed as "other things" further south. Please, Mudcat men, be respectful. |
|
11 Jul 08 - 06:14 PM (#2386971) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Bee I've been completely menopaused for five years. I absolutely despise going for a Pap test, but I'm aware of at least four related ladies in my mother's generation who ended up needing cervical cancer treatment in their late fifties/early sixties, after which all of them did live or are living well into their eighties, with no recurring problems. Two opted (or were advised) for hysterectomy, two for less drastic treatment. Given you're already short an organ, unless you still have ovaries not much can go wrong that an ob-gyn could do anything about. So I think a Pap is a good prophylactic measure every two or three years, for those of us still sporting a uterus. I'm not much in favour of booby crushing - some studies have shown the outcomes to be no better than woman or doctor finding a lump. Some doctors/researchers have suggested improved scanning techniques may be leading to un-necessary traumatic treatments for tiny lumps which may be benign or self-resolving - our bodies do have some cancer fighting abilities. But this is something every woman must decide for herself, and personal health and family history are big factors. My two cents, anyway. |
|
11 Jul 08 - 06:17 PM (#2386974) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Rapparee My wife says that having survived cancer once she prefers annual mammograms, pap smears, and other such indignities. Her only requirement is that the person doing the exam(s) be competent and treat her as an intelligent woman who lives in and knows her own body. She's 65, so she's met O'Pause. |
|
11 Jul 08 - 06:19 PM (#2386975) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: skipy I respect this & you ladies one & ALL. Skipy |
|
11 Jul 08 - 06:24 PM (#2386980) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Stilly River Sage I go to my ob/gyn for my annual physical partly because she's a friend now after all of these years, but also because there are other related issues to keep track of. My mother died of breast cancer so I keep my checkups and mammograms up to date. Because ob/gyns also have a lot of information about breast health (nursing babies, etc. through the changes in breast material as you get older) I think that makes this the best doctor for me to continue to see. SRS |
|
11 Jul 08 - 06:33 PM (#2386989) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Bee Absolutely right, SRS. A woman is lucky to be able to keep the same doctors. My GP is the same I've had for 22 years, and I think would notice if something changed for the worse. |
|
11 Jul 08 - 06:53 PM (#2387001) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Rapparee For whatever it's worth, my wife prefers a woman for GYN. Currently a Physician's Assistant is her primary contact, with the GYN right in the loop. (Her GYN is also a "fencing mom" in my fencing club and isn't bad with a foil herself.) |
|
11 Jul 08 - 07:27 PM (#2387021) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Becca72 I'm of child-bearing age and am too young for annual mammograms. I've never had an OB/GYN. I prefer to have a DO as my primary care doc. It's one stop shopping every year. Of course, were there ever a serious GYN problem they would refer me someplace else, but it works for me right now. |
|
12 Jul 08 - 06:12 AM (#2387233) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Liz the Squeak If an hour or so of uncomfortableness once a year can catch early signs of breast, ovarian or cervical cancer, then I'm for it. Also high risk for breast cancer (maternal grandmother, prudish, ill educated mother who never thought to mention it), I'll take any tit squashing they'll hand out to me... even though at under 45 and still "functioning" if not fertile, I'm not considered eligible. However well you think you know your body, it can still play the dirty on you and throw a spanner in the works. My spanner is an abnormal liver function, which is quite scary enough. If it were an abnormal smear or breast exam, then I'd be even more freaked out than I am now. LTS |
|
12 Jul 08 - 06:32 AM (#2387243) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: freda underhill like you, kat, I'm liberated, and what a great relief from inconvenience and mood swings that is. my life has been more peaceful and relaxed since (seven years now). I still go for annual pap checks, but go to a woman doc for these. for me, it's an essential thing for any woman to do, and I let my daughters and friends know when i go, as they do me, it just seems to help reinforce it. it's a small incovenience to stave off a lot of suffering. freda |
|
12 Jul 08 - 09:01 AM (#2387276) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: jacqui.c I'm another of the 'wombless wonders', as they were called at a convalescent home many years ago. My young, male doctor recently confirmed by examination that everything was taken away so no need for pap smears now. I'll go for the boob squashing regularly - having had one brush with cancer, that was discovered almost accidentally, I want to make sure that I take every precaution for early warning now. I really don't care whether the examining doctor is young, old, male or female. At 17 I was about six months pregnant and having my check up surrounded by about a dozen medical students, mostly male and not a lot older than I was. Somehow that puts modesty in those situations into perspective. |
|
12 Jul 08 - 09:24 AM (#2387286) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Alice I used to go to the physicians' assistant at the OB-GYN, but she has retired now. I have a younger gp doc now, a woman, but have not kept up on the annual tests. And I think the smashing tests should be done away with and ultrasound checks done instead. Ultrasound is better for detecting abnormalities than mammograms. And we should have health care coverage in the US that makes them free. My 2 cents. |
|
12 Jul 08 - 10:32 AM (#2387303) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Rapparee My wife has had two (2) quilt guild members die of breast cancer -- they were both under 35 (one was 27). Both of these women were told they were too young and a mammogram wasn't needn't. |
|
12 Jul 08 - 10:36 AM (#2387304) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: SINSULL With my thyroid issues, high blood pressure and cholesterol, I see my GP three times a year for testing. I have annual mammograms which usually turn up "suspicious" masses - cystic not cancer. I have my colonoscopies on the recommended schedule along with bone density tests. I sometimes wonder why. With all that I don't lose weight and exercise which would eliminate most of my trips to the doctor. Go figure. |
|
12 Jul 08 - 03:57 PM (#2387464) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity First of all, in my profession, I usually recommend that both men and women, for their respective concerns, to see a medical physician, on at least a yearly to 18 month, scheduled regularity. Men seem to put off prostate concerns, and then find out too late. Women should also pay very close attention to any changes, (due to, any hormones or birth control) that they may occur. Some of these symptoms, are not detectable, as to 'feeling' them, but by early detection, by a trained observer. If in your heart of hearts, you are not satisfied, with the accuracy of the diagnosis, or have doubts, absolutely get a second opinion!! Guys too!! Just in recent news, both Frank Zappa, and Dan Fogelberg, died of prostate cancer. Dan's was not detected, because he put off exams; Frank's was misdiagnosed(for years). Women, often go into have a routine exam, and polyps are found, that was a complete surprise, Had they had been waiting to 'feel' something, depending on your threshold of tolerance to discomfort, you could easily wait too long, to the point of the condition being far more serious, even grave. Please, consider this, and if for lesser reasons, you find yourself putting it off, and reasoning it away, please, please, override that feeling!....................... Besides, I guess I like to argue with healthy people............God bless, GfS |
|
12 Jul 08 - 09:41 PM (#2387591) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,lox Can I have one of those little pink cakes please ... ... ok ok I was going anyway ... |
|
12 Jul 08 - 10:34 PM (#2387609) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Rapparee I have an annual prostrate exam, an annual PSA done, and last January I had a colonoscopy. All are unpleasant, all are needful. Don't put things off because they are unpleasant -- dying of cancer is moreso. |
|
12 Jul 08 - 10:51 PM (#2387611) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Janie I was completely through menopause by the time I was 43, not uncommon among the women on the maternal side of my family. I'm 56 now, and continue to have annual pap smears and mammogams because of a number of personal and familial risk factors. I've never much minded either procedure. I do prefer a female practitioner, simply because i find women easier to talk to and less intimidating. I also have found that I prefer my direct provider to be either a FNP or PA. They tend to be more cautious and thorough, and not in nearly as much of a hurry as MD's have to be these days, whether they be male or female. I've had the same FNP for the last 5 years, which is a blessing. I went through a long period of having to change doctors or practitioners every year or so because of changes in insurance by my employers. Janie |
|
12 Jul 08 - 10:59 PM (#2387613) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: MarkS There are so many wonderful diagnostic and exploratory tools available to health care consumers these days that it is really foolish not to take advantage of what is out there. We can detect a whole lotta nasty stuff early enough to do something about it these days - nasty stuff that routinely would end your life a generation or so ago. Just ask around family and friends. You will be amazed when you find out just how many bullets have been dodged. Mark |
|
13 Jul 08 - 12:09 AM (#2387636) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Rapparee Mark, let's see: my brother has had a minor stroke, two minor (very!) heart attacks, and nine (9) bypasses. He also has CPD and type II diabetes (I have type two too). My wife had cancer when she was 17, or 48 years ago, gall bladder disease, and has kidney stones (prevented by Urocit-K). ALL of these are treated, many of them would have killed not that many years ago. Frankly, I think that if you DON'T get checked as you should -- regardless of your sex -- you're foolish. |
|
13 Jul 08 - 01:43 AM (#2387643) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Great to hear from all of you!!..Stay healthy!....There are people out there that need you!!..and your wisdom!! |
|
13 Jul 08 - 06:18 AM (#2387675) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: maeve It's wonderful that so many have the option to be checked regularly. When we had insurance and an income we saw doctors on an annual basis. Kat, you are valued by somany people, and one small person in particular. Please take care of yourself. |
|
13 Jul 08 - 06:36 AM (#2387682) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: kendall I have a full physical exam once a year, including a prostate exam. I hate that part, but Jacqui says I'm too sexy to die, so guess I'll stick around until she changes her mind. |
|
13 Jul 08 - 08:54 AM (#2387729) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: maeve Good thing Jacqui's a lady who's constant and true, Kendall. |
|
13 Jul 08 - 01:50 PM (#2387869) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing Not to worry, maeve, thanks, though.:-) I really appreciate the respect throughout this thread, folks, thank you. I have no cervix. When I asked the nurse, recently, if I even needed a pap, she said just as a baseline, but then probably not necessary after that. Really, she didn't sound as though she had a clue. NO ONE, not even the surgeon, ever said one way or another about paps after a vaginal hysterectomy. I have been very healthy in those parts for years and years. I have been to a physical therapist who has given me exercises in order to improve my pelvic floor muscles which had been weakened over the years from not being able to exercise, too much weight, and last fall's pneumonia's hacking and coughing. The latter really was hard on those poor muscles! So...I am giving the exercises six months as the phy. therapist said to do. If things haven't improved by then, I'll find a woman doc to go to, plus nearer the end of the year is better for our insurance deductibles, etc. I could go to my doc's PAs but they both missed the pneumonia; neither of us trusts them anymore. Thanks, again! |
|
13 Jul 08 - 02:19 PM (#2387886) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Mudlark Hi Kat...Having had an ovary-sparing hysterectomy at 36, due to fibroids, over the years I'd put the whole ob-gyn visit thing behind me. Not smart...just had a huge, thankfully benign ovarian cyst removed but when first diagnosed (a fluke at best) it was as terminal cancer. Luckily, thru recommendation of friends, found an excellent ob-gyn (male, but at my age professional excellence is all!) who re-diagnosed on basis of PET CT scan, did the surgery and I'm recovering well. But the surgery was very extensive due to the size of the tumor...could have been found much sooner if I'd been seeing this doc all along. His philosophy is that a good ob-gyn deals with the whole body...and given the complexity of interconnectedness of all these functions we depend on, I agree. I am a convert...it's yearly exams from here on in. I complain a lot about this body but every once in a while I'm just blown away by the miracle of all that is going right, in the midst of all that is going wrong. Good luck with finding someone you trust. That's really the key, I think. Nancy |
|
13 Jul 08 - 02:50 PM (#2387902) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Wink |
|
13 Jul 08 - 04:24 PM (#2387948) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: mouldy I am lucky enough to have no family history of women's cancers, but always have, and now, post menopause, still go for regular pap tests. I've now had 2 mammograms, and don't find them too troublesome - uncomfortable, yes, but I don't mind. My mother in law was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the early 1970s. She seemed ok after site treatment with a radium pack, and follow up radiotherapy. However, she reported some symptoms she had thought were just a side effect of the treatment (probably constipation, at a guess) and investigation showed that she actually had colon cancer. The cervical was a spread from it. The growth was inoperable as it had attached to her body wall, and when she died about 18 months later, the cervical cancer was back again, and was also noted on her death certificate. She didn't have regular smear tests, and I wonder that if something had been picked up earlier, the bowel tumour might have been found early enough to treat. When she was first diagnosed with the cervical cancer she just said she couldn't understand why she could have something so wrong, and yet feel so well. Andrea |
|
13 Jul 08 - 06:14 PM (#2387996) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Hawker I too have no womb but the gynie chap very kindly (HUH?) left my cervix, so I still have to have a pap test! Not fair! Cheers, Lucy |
|
13 Jul 08 - 06:55 PM (#2388029) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Stilly River Sage My ob/gyn said that it's easy enough to do a PAP smear and even without the cervix she wants to know if something else is happening at a cellular level to catch it early. SRS |
|
13 Jul 08 - 08:33 PM (#2388085) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: mg Yes..absolutely go if you can. I'm trying to figure out how a physical therapist could substitute for a GYN but haven't worked it out in my mind yet. mg |
|
13 Jul 08 - 09:41 PM (#2388121) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing Well, the PT didn't substitute for a GYN...that's easy enough. I decided on my own to go to the PT because I knew that's where my doc would send me anyway to deal with the "fallen arches" (pelvic floor muscles.) I am not ruling out a visit with a GYN, folks. I don't feel any particular need and I think we can know our bodies very well. I appreciate your input and also stories of reasons why a person should get a check-up. IF I feel a need, I will do so later in the year when it works out better for insurance, etc. Again, I didn't ask this because of any problem I am worried about or anything. It just was on my mind to see what other women do,in general, as I deal with the PFS. BTW, I've been told a vibrator works great for exercising those muscles!:-) |
|
13 Jul 08 - 09:42 PM (#2388122) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing Nancy/Mudlark! Forgot to say HI!! REALLY good to *see* you and I am glad you are okay! I've missed you! |
|
14 Jul 08 - 12:27 AM (#2388170) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: JennieG Kat, I'm another who had a vaginal hysterectomy several years ago - late 1994, to be exact. When the Ob-Gyn bloke was farewelling me after my final check-up he said that I would never have to worry about Pap tests again. But my ovaries were left as they were fine, and it meant I wasn't suddenly plunged into menopause as I could have been had they been taken out too. Suppose I should have them checked occasionally too....... Geez - who would have thought, once upon a time, that we would be discussing our girly bits on a world-wide forum! Cheers JennieG |
|
14 Jul 08 - 01:33 AM (#2388187) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Its actually a good thing to bring out. I know, that I say some fairly 'sensitive' things on here, after years of being a counselor, paddling upstream. Perhaps there's a lot of things, that people should know about the other sex, other than 'cute and rich'. I have found, and been quoted in interviews, as saying, "Sometimes its not a lack of love, that tears people apart, sometimes its a lack of education'(about knowing the opposite sex). After the swoon of initial attraction, then there's the reality of actually caring for each others NEEDS....not .YOUR desires, or preconceptions! |
|
14 Jul 08 - 08:51 AM (#2388346) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Rapparee It should ALWAYS be about caring for another's needs. |
|
14 Jul 08 - 11:11 AM (#2388468) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing JennieG, I know, who would have thought! I still have my ovaries, too, but have been this way since 1979, so I guess docs weren't as forthcoming back then.:-) |
|
15 Jul 08 - 12:16 AM (#2389281) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Rapaire, Daz right! Actually, in the larger scheme of things, we are each other, the whole of mankind, is you, and you them, and them us. When one suffers, the whole suffers. When one excels, we all do. Actually, maybe we are all of one big organism. "What you do unto the least of them, you do unto me' |
|
15 Jul 08 - 08:37 AM (#2389505) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Eye Lander Oh the memories! Early 1980, results of a smear test not good, go for a second check in 3months time, Not good again! Gyn Consultant we'll have you in for a biopsy, on examination I am pregnant! Ah best leave that until you've had the baby. Late summer 1982 (my notes had gone missing from the 1980 tests ), best get that biopsy done, on examination I am pregnant with second child! Gyn consultant not amused. 'Mrs Hambley you're pregnant again!!!' Eventually in May 1984 I had a Cone Biopsy and all the Very nasties were removed. By 1990 I had allsorts of other probs and eventually had a hysterical rectomy YAY!! All my problems are over, I was left with one ovary and not a lot else. 9 months later needed HRT, and again I was soon sorted. All was well until 2005, I had had many kidney problems and thought I may have a stone. For more that one reason I couldn't have an x-ray so was given a body scan (thank God), I don't think anybody looked for the stone as all they could see was a growth on my ovary the size of a grapefruit (I didn't know this at the time). I was called within days to make an appointment with the Gyn Consultant which I thought was strange as I had gone about my kidneys! The appointment came though quickly and was seen, told that I had a cancer count in my blood of seventy eight, and that normal would be no higher than 30 – Shit Panic. Op date in a couple of weeks ARGHHH! Luckily for me they took my ovary (good riddance) and the Omentum which was described to me as assort of lymph gland which the disease could spread through. Home a week later only to have come home from hospital with an infection in my wound and therefore it couldn't heal! And eventually after about 6 weeks I began to heel. I still have 6xmonthly checkups and that's fine with me. I was very scared at the time, locally ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer as there are no symptoms – thank god for kidney stones I say. ALL CHECK UPS ARE GOOD – IF IT'S OFFERED, TAKE IT, NO MATTER HOW UNPLEASENT. |
|
15 Jul 08 - 04:44 PM (#2390074) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Desert Dancer A pre-menopausal friend who had had a hysterectomy a few years ago due to uterine cancer, but ovaries left intact, was last fall very lucky to have a doctor notice a growth on one ovary in a manual exam. What turned out to be ovarian cancer was in an early stage that we hope has been thoroughly cleared with surgery ("overnight menopause", she calls it) and chemo. (Unlike a late mutual friend of ours, whose advanced ovarian cancer was discovered during gall bladder surgery.) Keep checking!! ~ Becky in Tucson |
|
15 Jul 08 - 08:11 PM (#2390246) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Eye Lander quite! I feel very very lucky. Jillie |
|
15 Jul 08 - 11:33 PM (#2390348) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: JohnInKansas I'm not sure what to think of this latest confusion, or how it fits into the discussion; but it seemed like something that might merit comment(?) - by those affected, not by me. John |
|
16 Jul 08 - 12:37 AM (#2390357) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Stilly River Sage I remember hearing an interview with Florence Henderson (the singer) years ago, and I remember her passing reference to "surgical menopause" in the context of whatever they were discussing. No explanation why, but it got me thinking, and it seems that many of us who hoped to grow to old age with everything intact aren't managing to make good on that goal. Unlike our mothers, whose doctors often did hysterectomies because "you're not using it any more anyway," we seem to be losing our parts due to more cancer. Did our mothers simply lose their uterus and ovaries before they had a chance to get cancer? SRS |
|
16 Jul 08 - 05:39 AM (#2390413) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Pistachio Another Mudcatter and I joked we each had 'a womb with a view' in 2000 when we were relieved to have hysterectomies. I have loved the freedom of the last 8 years but because of this thread I've booked an appointment for next week. It seems too many cancers and gremlins only come to light when an 'other problem' is being investigated. Thank you for the 'nudge'. My ovaries remain but I was told I have no cervix..so opted to drop out of smear tests.... but you've got me thinking AND prevention is soooo much better than cure. Yes, it'll be worth a few minutes discomfort...and now I've turned 50 I suppose I'd better get a mamogram booked in too! How much time do you have Doc? Lots of love, Hazel. |
|
16 Jul 08 - 07:18 AM (#2390467) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Ruth Archer Re the mammogram: I had my first last year at age 40 after finding a lump in my breast. It wasn't nearly so uncomfortable (or even painful) as I was expecting - I'd urge anyone of the appropriate age to have one. Prevention is a MILLION times better than cure. My lump was benign, so the doctors chose to leave it alone...I actually don't particularly like it being there, as it can be uncomfortable (it's not far above the underwire of my bra, and can get sore) and there's something strange about knowing it's there, but I think I'd dislike surgey on my breast even more... |
|
16 Jul 08 - 09:16 PM (#2391063) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: JennieG SRS, it's possibly because we are all living longer...in years gone by more women died in childbirth or other causes much earlier than they do now, so there wouldn't have been as many menopausal women in the world as there are now. My mother had a hysterical rectomy (love that expression!) in 1971 aged 47, for heavy monthly bleeding - at least I think that was the cause, as she was of the generation that didn't discuss "such things" even with their one-and-only daughters. When it was my turn the reason was different, as I had a prolapse which was getting a tad uncomfortable and wouldn't improve with age. And like Hazel Pistachio above, I relish the freedom too! Cheers JennieG |
|
17 Jul 08 - 02:24 PM (#2391607) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Penny S. I've had one mammogram, and missed the last because the first led to three days of pain, not being able to sleep as every time I rolled over I landed on the painful areas, but it still hurt as I lay on my back. I've talked to a radiographer friend, who shot me down on my "If this was done to men there would be a better way..." complaint, explaining that some men do have to have mammograms, and it's really difficult. But she also explained the negative sid of the process as well. I'm currently expecting the next call. I am in the at risk group. I do manual exams sometimes, and now that is getting negative publicity. I don't know how I will decide. I'm not at risk for cervical cancer, so regularly refuse smears. Penny |
|
17 Jul 08 - 10:20 PM (#2391776) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing My, my, looky what the docs were up to a while back: Scroll down! |
|
18 Jul 08 - 02:51 PM (#2392335) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Irene M A work colleague went for her first routine mammogram on her 50th birthday. "Happy Birthday, you have a lump and need a needle biopsy." She would never have realised she had a problem until it was way too late. She now says of her mastectomy; "sod it, I was already flat-chested, so who can tell". Thank gods for a sense of humour. |
|
18 Jul 08 - 03:58 PM (#2392421) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Becca72 My personal take on the increase in cancer rates has little to do with living longer. I think it's the amount of chemicals, growth hormones, industrial pollution, genetially altered food sources, etc that we are exposed to every day. My mother had a hysterectomy due to a prolapsed uterus. Cancer is one thing not in her medical history (almost everything else is!), but it's in my father's. From a family history point of view, I'm screwed. I don't do self breast exams, but I get a full physical and pap annually and the NP does a breast exam as part of it. I figure she knows better than I do what to look for and I see the same person every year so she can also note any changes. |
|
18 Jul 08 - 07:46 PM (#2392592) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Mickey191 Having lost both breasts (one was misdiagnosed as cancer) 4 yrs. later the other was a proven cancer-I want to remind women that BC does not always present with a palpable lump. Mamography pinpointed the cancer. My other warning: _Always_ get a second opinion. The jerk that took my non cancerous breast off was head of surgical oncology at Vassar Bros. Hospital in NY. |
|
19 Jul 08 - 04:55 AM (#2392744) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Katlaughing: I'm going to give up my practice and go back to med school, and get my degree in that type of medicine!!...where do I enroll?? |
|
19 Jul 08 - 06:42 AM (#2392771) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Murray MacLeod after reading this thread , I am filled with admiration for the women who have borne such trials and tribulations with fortitude, but I cannot help thinking of, and maybe understanding a little better, the traditional benediction which all male Jews are required to recite each morning: "Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast not made me a woman" |
|
19 Jul 08 - 10:34 AM (#2392844) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Tweed Yow Murray! After reading this thread I may start reciting that one myself. Wimmen are the weaker sex??? Pshaww!!! |
|
22 Jul 08 - 10:11 AM (#2395051) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: Pistachio update from 16 July: Saw the doc this morning. He assured me I've no need for a smear as my hysterectomy was for fibroids, my cervix was removed and I had had no previous 'abnormal' results. I will be on the mamogram list now I've reached 50...and, while I was there, the doc checked my blood pressure and lungs (I sounded rather husky after a weekend singing so he took an opportunity to listen in). I feel much better already....but I've make a mental note to look after myself a bit more - 'cos I'm worth it'... ! Keep healthy out there. Lots of love, Hazel xx |
|
22 Jul 08 - 11:20 AM (#2395137) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: katlaughing That's good news, Hazel! Again, thanks to all for sharing. Murray! **bg** |
|
22 Jul 08 - 06:07 PM (#2395451) Subject: RE: BS: For Mudcat Wimmin - please respect this From: open mike i just got a message about a "new" kind of breST CANCER.. inflammabtory Breast Cancer..I.B.C. hard to detectg and hard to cure. http://www.ibcresearch.org/ there is a video--you might find it komo2.wmv |