Question:
Are you having regular mammograms?

Hi! My name is Rona and I had WLS a little over 17 months ago. I've made it to goal weight and will be having a Tummy Tuck in just 6 weeks. What a miraculous journey this has been! Just yesterday I discovered that WLS has saved my life in more ways that I could've ever imagined. For the first time in several years I had a routine mammogram this past January. Prior to losing over 100 pounds I refused to go for a mammogram because the whole process was just too embarrassing.....gowns that were too small, unsympathetic health care workers, poor self image, etc. Anyway, I decided to start the year off right with a physical and mammogram. Three weeks after the procedure I was stunned to receive a letter in the mail stating that I needed to return for another mammogram. The radiographer showed me the mammography films and it looked like my breasts had lint on them. Tiny little flecks of white clustered together in several places. We did a biopsy the next day and the results were benign but my surgeon wasn't convinced. After two additional pathology reports confirmed that it was benign we scheduled a follow up mammogram for six weeks. I had the follow up mammogram and expected a perfect report. I didn't get one. There was more "lint" and it was very dense. I spoke with two surgeons, both of whom agreed, that bilateral mastectomy was the way to go. 6 women in my immediate birth family (I'm adopted) have or had breast cancer. Only one woman on my birth mother's side of the family has lived past 60. This family history combined with the mammogram results makes mastectomy necessary. We are relatively convinced that the pathology report from the mastectomy will come back malignant. When the cells are so small it's easy to miss them with a biopsy. If I'd never had WLS I never would have had a mammogram. If I'd never had the mammogram we wouldn't have discovered the cells and by the time we did discover them it's very likely that I wouldn't have had a good outcome. I might have ended up just another woman who didn't make it to age 60 in my family. Thanks to WLS I am taking better care of myself and I hope you will too. Please don't let weight be an issue in getting breast screening, gynecological screenings or prostate screenings. You are worth every second of aggravation or frustration associated with these screenings. I may (or may not) ultimately have breast cancer (we'll know for certain on the 15th) but I can tell you this much...IT DOESN'T HAVE ME!! I won the first victory in this battle when I had WLS and I'll win every one that comes along. Are you taking good care of yourself? I hope so. Best wishes friends.    — ronascott (posted on April 5, 2002)

April 4, 2002
Hi Rona, Mammograms....they do save our lives and they need to be done regardless of our size. Regardless how we look, our lives are just as important as the next, but lets not forget ROUTINE Self Exams. Less than a year ago I was showing my 13 year old daughter how to do one. Here I am 8 months later after a bilateral mastectomy, alive and getting ready for Gastric Bypass next week (April 12th). You can go to the American Cancer Society website for instructions how to do this or your PCP or your library. Thank you for your post, it will undoubtedly save some lives. God bless you...Michelle
   — Michelle E.

April 4, 2002
Rona, thank you so much for this reminder. Good luck with everything. I haven't been to the ob/gyn since the 1 year checkup I had after having my last baby. That "baby" is celebrating her 6th birthday today! So, I am 5 years overdue for my mammogram and my pap. My weight gain kept me from going back to the doctor. The doctor that examined me at that last appointment seemed so disgusted with the weight I had put on. My pcp's wife is an ob/gyn and I think I'm going to make an appointment with her. Make that I KNOW I'm going to make that appointment. Today. And I'm going to post here to you when I do. Thanks again, you may have very well saved some lives with your post today.
   — Donna L.

April 4, 2002
Rona, As a two-time cancer survivor I want you to know that I'll be in your corner all the way. I'm a member of your support group and the courage and determination that you show us at every meeting proves to me that you will sail through this experience with flying colors. You know we will all be right beside you and will do everything we can to get you through this. Like one of the others who answered your post, I didn't return to my doctor for a pap smear until 2 years after I had my son. I was so embarrassed about the weight I had gained, not with my pregnancy, but with the midnight feedings for 2 years straight. Because he had been the only doctor I had been to in over 15 years, I went to my gyno for strept throat and came out with a diagnoses of cancer. After many laser surgeries, months of chemotherapy and radiation sessions, and enduring the entire experience twice, I am now in remission and have been for nearly 3 years now. I'm living proof that cancer can be survivable. I'm also what my gyno likes to refer to as the "Poster Child for Pap Smears". The same goes for mammos. I NEVER miss a mammo or a pap smear. I also NEVER miss my breast self exam every month. Right after I write out my "first of the month" bills, give the dog his heart worm pill, and do my breast exam. Keeping a regular schedule like this helps me to remember it's a task that HAS to be done without fail. I just make it as important as paying that mortgage on time. And I'm sure we'll all agree that our health is much more important than our mortgage. Please, please, PLEASE ladies - don't let your weight get in the way of your health. It has taken many many years of studies, testing, and practice to develop the tests that we have today. These tests can save our lives. I implore each of you to make an appointment today for a pap smear and mammogram if you haven't done so already this year. I have to have a pap every 3 months for the rest of my life and, although it's not a trip to paradise, believe me it's a WHOLE LOT better than chemo and radiation. Rona, you are on every prayer list I know of and believe me those prayers work when nothing else will. There is also an excellent chat room on AOL called Cancer Support. It's a great bunch of people who offer support, advise, words of wisdom, a shoulder to cry on, and an excellent source of a belly laugh just when you thought you'd never laugh again. Rona, I'm so very very proud of you for making a stand with this. My prayers are that they will find no malignancies. If it turns out to be not quite what we all want for you, we're here for you - every step of the way. You're one of my inspirations and a source of strength to me - I thank you very much for everything you have done for our support group. You're our angel.
   — Vicki H.

April 5, 2002
Dear Rona, I want you to know that you will be in my thoughts and my prayers. Thanks you for your post. My mom is alive today because after skipping moamograms for several years, a doctor friend of hers convinced her to go in. Well, that simple request and my mom's willingness to folllow through saved her life.. I am amazed that with all that must be running through your head at this moment that you thought to remind others of the importance of mamograms. Thank you Rona. I know that everything will turn out ok. Please keep us updated and know that all of your support groupies are sending their very best energy your way. Tracey Leschin
   — Tracey L.

January 26, 2004
Hi Rona, Since I'm posting in 2004, I hope you are well into your remission period by now. I'm posting for 2 reasons: #1) Don't be slack on getting your routine mammograms! And, #2) When you go in for your mammo, be sure to tell the technician that you are post-op WLS! This is really important, because when the radiologist examines your films, he/she needs to know why there is so much difference in the density of your breasts compared to your previous mammogram/s!! Best wishes. Linda H.
   — Ososian