Category: The Breast Place Charleston

How To Prepare For a Mammogram

3/17/2021

While mammograms are a yearly procedure that we recommend for our patients that are in their 40's and beyond, there can still be so much mystery in what a mammogram is, how to prepare for one, and what to expect after the experience itself. Today, we are dedicating this blog to everything you need to know about the realities of a mammogram inside and out. We will also be talking about the before, during, and after process of getting one!

Hello warriors! Welcome back to the Breast Place Blog! It has been a very exciting few weeks with a visit from our friend Amanda Syfriend, making appearances at the #pinkintherink hockey game with the South Carolina Stingrays, and supporting an incredible local charity called Share our Suzy. Share our Suzy, for our readers new to the charity, helps local breast cancer patients pay for utility bills, groceries, wigs, childcare, and much more. We are constantly fighting for, supporting, and educating those who are fighting and those who could one day fight if we don't find a cure fast enough. This is one of the many reasons why we invest our time and efforts into our social media pages and our blog, we want to share and spread awareness, support our community, and do everything we can to help. We appreciate all of our readers, followers, and supporters for their love and kindness they've shown to each of these platforms, and we applaud you for helping us achieve these goals, spread our message, and help lift up our warriors and fighters. With a whole year under our belts since the pandemic has started, we are coming out exhausted in more ways than one. There is still so much unknown and we hope that as time goes on, we continue to see a light at the end of the tunnel together. Let's continue to stay safe and make safe choices for our loved ones.

Our last few blogs have been dedicated to our products and services that you can find when you visit our offices, their amazing results, and the power they can give to your self-esteem and self-confidence. Today, we are going to be circling back and talking directly about services related to breast cancer and the prevention of it. Today, we are going to be talking about mammograms. While they should become part of your regular yearly checkups once you're over the age of 40, there are still so many people who aren't getting them and so many who are unaware and unsure about what the whole process entails. Today, we are going to continue to use this platform as a tool for education to clear up any questions and confusion about mammograms, and to persuade you to get them if you're not already doing so.

What Is A Mammogram?

What comes to mind when you think about what a mammogram is? Just the squashing of your breasts between a piece of machinery to see if you have any signs of breast cancer? While that might be one way to think about it, there is so much more to it than that, and believe us it is worth your time and the compression you'll experience on your breasts. We've talked about mammogram benefits in our blogs over the last few years and why you begin getting them once you turn 40. One of the reasons why women under the age of 40 don't get them is that the tissue in your breasts is too firm to be penetrated with the X-ray that is used in the procedure itself. This is why it can be so difficult to detect breast cancer in women 40 and young. Once you hit 40 and begin to go through menopause, your breast tissue becomes less dense and not as firm, allowing the X-ray to penetrate the breast better. First and foremost, it is very important to remember that mammograms are a very important role in early breast cancer detection to help find it sooner, treat it faster, and help to lower the number of fatalities due to breast cancer.

Mammograms are done both for screening and diagnostic purposes. Once your doctor begins to advise you to start getting them, usually around the time you turn 40, these mammograms are used to detect any changes in the breast in women who have shown no previous signs or symptoms of cancer. This can help detect cancer before clinical signs begin. A diagnostic mammogram is used to investigate anything unusual that has appeared in a woman's breast including lumps, pain, changes in skin appearance, and more. This mammogram will include more images than a normal screening. According to the American Cancer Society, women with a normal risk of cancer should receive a mammogram every year starting at age 45 until age 54, while the Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening every two years, starting at age 50 until 74. Those with a higher risk of breast cancer will benefit from starting mammograms sooner, and it is best to speak to your doctor about when best to begin your mammogram process. During the mammogram itself, a patient's breasts will be compressed between two separate hard surfaces to help spread out the breast tissue. This will help the X-ray capture images of the breasts. Once the breasts have been compressed, an X-ray takes black and white photos of the breasts that will then be examined by your doctor for any signs of abnormalities or cancer.

Tips for Getting a Mammogram

You're scheduled for your first mammogram, and you know the basics of what it is and what's going to happen. What are some other things to keep in mind to make it a comfortable experience?

Don't be afraid about getting a mammogram. According to the American Cancer Society, only 2 to 4 in 1000 screenings leads to a diagnosis. The more you know, the better you can prevent it!
Choose a facility that frequently or only does mammograms, and once you begin going to a facility keep going to the same one. if you have any questions, we can help with that!
Make sure to dress comfortably. It is recommended to wear pants or a skirt, so all you need to remove is your top for the exam.
If this is your first mammogram, please come prepared with a full medical history and share any changes or abnormalities that have appeared in your breasts. Also, bring a list of any treatments you've had done to your breasts in the past.
It's recommended not to get a mammogram during the week before your period. To avoid extra discomfort, schedule an appointment when your breasts aren't tender and swollen. This also helps with the quality of the photos that the X-ray will take.
On exam day, don't wear antiperspirants or deodorants. They can contain ingredients that can show up on the X-ray as white spots.
If you are breastfeeding or think you could be pregnant, please share this information with your doctor before your exam.
During the exam, the procedure will only last 20 minutes and the compression will last a few seconds on each breast. If it does hurt, please tell the tech. Two views of your breasts will be taken, but if you have implants or larger breasts, more might be needed.
You will have to undress above the waist but you will be given a wrap to wear during your exam. A tech will be the only one in the room with you.
You will be standing for the exam, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Caffeine can make your breasts feel more tender, so limiting your coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate intake a few days before your exam can be helpful.
Eat and drink as you normally would before your appointment, and take your daily medications too.
Don't wear necklaces during the exam, it's best to leave them at home.

What To Expect After a Mammogram?

You've made your appointment and have been seen by the doctor, now what?

Once you've finished at the doctor's office, you're all set! It is recommended that while at the doctor's to just go ahead and schedule your next visit.
The pain and discomfort felt during the exam should stop very shortly after compression, but aching can be felt for a few days after the exam. Using an anti-inflammatory, a heating pad or bath, and avoiding tight clothes can help!
Once you're finished, your doctor will send your full results to your healthcare provider along with a summary mailed directly to you. If you don't hear back from your provider 10 days after the exam, make sure to call and check-in.
Please know it is very common to be called back after your screening. Your doctor might have found something they want to look at a little closer just to be safe. This call back will most likely lead to more pictures and tests. This is when a diagnostic mammogram is used!
You might also need to get an ultrasound on the area doctors want a better look at and an MRI is also possible.
You could be told one of three things in this situation; that it is nothing to worry about and to continue with your regular screenings, that it's nothing to worry about but just to be safe you should come back in 6 months, or that it could be cancer and you need to get a biopsy. Remember, even if you do get a biopsy this still doesn't mean you have cancer!

If you have any more questions about mammograms and the experience of getting one, please do not hesitate to reach out! We are here to answer any questions and calm any worries. Until next time warriors, stay strong and keep fighting!

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Nurturing and Encouraging Self Confidence As An Adult

2/17/2021

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When you visit our website, one of the first things you'll notice is a button that says EMPOWER at the top of your screen. The idea behind the creation of The Breast Place was to help empower women who have been challenged by all aspects of life, to help boost their confidence, and to restore their sense of normalcy. Today, we are going to be talking about the importance and self restorative power of self-confidence as an adult.

Watching as your body changes over the years, seeing your body change due to cancer treatments and surgeries, and sitting in front of the mirror after a hard week can be incredibly difficult, make it hard to feel like yourself, and can be a blow to your self-confidence. It's no secret that every media outlet and our smart devices that we are glued to also add a decent amount of weight to our everyday moods, decisions, how we see ourselves, and how we feel about ourselves. As we grow older, it's hard to keep up with being your own hype woman and keeping your self-confidence up. As a woman-run and owned business, we understand that completely.

We opened this clinic as a way to empower women who have been challenged with various aspects of life and encourage them to find beauty in all things. We cherish our survivors and want them to feel loved, respected, and beautiful. We hope that by offering services like skin rejuvenation and scar revision that we can boost their confidence and restore their sense of normalcy in life. After challenging life events, we offer total wellness through skin resurfacing with the latest laser technology, dermal injections to subtly address fine lines and wrinkles, body contouring to tackle unwanted areas of fat with non-invasive treatment, and much more. These services include truSculpt iD, secret RF, excel V+, Botox, and products from Environ and Cutera to help with loose skin, stretch marks, and scars caused by acne. We are dedicated to helping you feel your best. Today, we want to talk about celebrating and nurturing your self-confidence!

What Is Wellness?
Wellness goes beyond waking up without a cold, having bad allergies, or a runny nose. Wellness goes into how your feeling mentally and emotionally, all of which can be helped by caring for yourself and taking advantage of all of our empowering services. According to the Global Institute of Wellness, it is defined as the active pursuit of activities, choices, and a lifestyle that leads to a state of holistic health. It is an active pursuit towards a healthy lifestyle and state of mind. It is also an individual pursuit. While it is important to surround yourself with supportive and loving people, you have to make these choices and accept what you need to achieve wellness on your own. Making that uphill climb will be worth the outcome. Wellness is also not a one-dimensional thing, it is a six-part dimensional way of thinking and living! It includes:

Physical - Keeping a healthy body with activity, exercise, plenty of sleep, and a good diet.
Mental - Supporting your creativity, continuing to learn, problem-solving, and much more.
Emotional - Being in touch with your emotions, understanding your emotions, knowing how to properly and healthily express them, and how to return the favor with other's feelings.
Spiritual - Having your personal understanding and belief for the meaning and purpose of life.
Social - Interacting, connecting, and giving back to others and your community.
Environmental - Putting yourself in a safe and healthy environment that is beneficial to your overall health and the health of your loved ones.

The pandemic and many personal struggles that are out of our hands have and will continue to make working towards wellness that The Breast Place offers and what you can do for yourself a challenge. However, we are here when you're ready and believe in you that you can reach a very healthy and happy balance of wellness and self-confidence.

What are some of the ways you can work towards your overall wellness?

Greet the day with a routine and moments of joy. If you are working at home or the office, take a moment for yourself in the morning to meditate, exercise, journal, eat a good breakfast, wait to look at your phone, or think about what you're thankful for. Keeping a routine can also be very beneficial for your wellness, organization, and to help you be more productive.
If stress is getting to you, practice a few breathing techniques. Or, just take a moment away from what you're working on to take a few deep breaths or get some fresh air.
Stay active! While the pandemic has changed what that looks like for many of us, keep that blood pumping! Ride your bike, dance around the living room with your loved ones, or try that new workout app you've been eyeing.
A good diet can help you from the inside out. It can help with how you feel, think, operate, and it can help you stay in great physical shape. A good diet helps boost your immunity and cutting out those unhealthy foods can help reduce inflammation, help with focus, and much more.
Introduce the practice of mindfulness to your wellness journey. Surround yourself with positive and loving people, stay in touch with family and friends, and take the time for positive affirmations and gratitude. Even a few moments of reflection can improve your whole day.
Make time to do the things you love to do. You need time away from work and the responsibilities of your life to pursue and spend time doing what you love.
Invest in sleeping well and getting enough sleep every night. This might mean putting down your phone, putting down your book, and turning off Netflix much sooner than you would like.
Don't be afraid to try new things. Try that new hobby, that new workout class, that new recipe, or go and sign up for that class or even that new degree!
Like we mentioned above, do these things for yourself and no one else. While feeding and nurturing yourself can nurture your relationships, it's because you're nurturing your relationship with yourself, not with or for someone else.
Invest in time management tools, hacks, apps, and dedicate your time back to what you want and need to use it for. Use it to focus on the important things in your life and not on the things that cause worry and what you have no control over.

How do you nurture self-confidence?
Self-confidence is a difficult thing to maintain and have a healthy relationship with as an adult. However, it doesn't have to be something you are constantly fighting against. This is also hard for everyone, not just women. As you go through life, be gentle and kind with those you come in contact with, you don't know what they're going through. To nurture your self-confidence, you will have to put the work in yourself, and please don't rely on others to provide it for you. This is for you by you.

First off, acknowledge and realize what in your life is giving you any doubts in your confidence. Too much time on social media? A stressful job or work relationship? Issues at home or with a friend or family member? Ask yourself if the negative things that you are telling yourself connected to these situations are true, and remember that if a loved one would never say these things to you, do not say them to yourself.
Forgive yourself for the smallest and biggest mistakes. Just because you've made mistakes does not mean you're a bad person. Everyone makes mistakes, that's what people do.
Get off of those social media apps and put down your phone more often.
Remove yourself from negative situations and don't be afraid to say no. You can put space between yourself and negative individuals or situations, and you can say no without explaining yourself.
Focus on the positive things in your life and consider everything you've learned throughout your life. Focus on the new and positive skills you've learned due to everything you've been through and how that has made your life so much better.
Exercise! Keeping active helps boost your self-esteem and will improve your mental health as well.
Giving back and doing unto others as you would wish to be treated in kind can also boost your self-esteem. Even the smallest acts of kindness can have the biggest impact.
Take time to do activities that show off and use your special unique skills and abilities.
Invest in good hygiene and keep up with your yearly doctor's exams. Taking charge of how you feel and your health is very empowering.
Keeping learning new things and challenge yourself to learn a new skill, or improve upon the skills you already have.
Make time and space for yourself, who you are, and know that it is okay to celebrate yourself, forgive yourself, care for yourself, and be kind to yourself.

Being kind to yourself in the process of wellness, self-confidence, and empowerment can be the hardest battle. It's easy to make fun of and downplay the importance of each of these elements in your life, but there is nothing like permitting yourself to go after the wellness and self-confidence you deserve. We are here to help you start that journey and inspire you along the way. We believe in each of you and know that you deserve this kindness. If you have any questions about our services, empowerment, self-confidence, survivorship, or anything else, we are here for you! Dear readers, please know we are always here for you with your best interests at heart. Please stay safe, make smart decisions, and be kind to yourself in 2021!

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How To Prepare For a Mammogram

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