..just kidding...but I am another year older now. Yup had another birthday. Two of my siblings must have forgotten because I didn't get any happy birthday email from them, but that is okay. I had to work as usual and it really was just like any other day...but now if I need to put my date of birth the math will reveal another year older. I don't feel any older than I did a year ago...but I know this year when I get my physical I will be asked once again when I am getting that colonoscopy. I am not saying it is not a good idea, I'm just saying I do not really know that it is needed when one turns 50.
I heard from a woman the other day who read my blog article on my other blog that I rarely write on now. It was called Mammogram Overkill
She had an interest in it as she also had what she thought was needless mammograms. I decided to share here what I responded to her with.
"Let me start off by saying I am no doctor so all I write is just my own observations and opinions.
I have a theory on why there is being so much needless needle biopsies,and additional mammograms. The equipment being used has grown so sophisticated that it can now pick up microcalcifications that used to not show up. And when the doctors see that, they want more tests. I'm sure for some this is helpful if they find out early on about stage 1 cancer. But for others like me and you (it sounds like), it really adds a
lot of stress.
Ever since I had the botched up needle biopsy in 2005, I have had a digital mammogram (recommended). And except for that time they wanted more films which was the time I wrote that blog article, there have been no instances of coming back for anything.
Who knows if I did or did not have any microcalcifications because there apparently are none now. Perhaps they moved and are now undetected. I don't know.
I am sorry you are being put through this extra prodding and aggravation. It is really your decision whether or not to go back in 6 months. I can see your questioning why it is necessary...thus the 'overkill' label. :)
I do not know if you watch Dr Oz at all but the other day there was a segment about cancer and he said that all of us have some microcalcifications of cancer and the issue is whether these ever grow and become full blown cancer. I thought that was a very interesting concept. There was a cancer research 'expert' there who emphasized measures that can be taken to avoid cancer growth and the main thing that we can contribute for that is in what we eat!
There were 5 things that were excellent anti-cancer foods specifically that I wrote down and am going to try to eat more of ..or even eat as I never had a few of these. They were: Bok Choy, Flounder, strawberries, cooked tomatoes (cooking does something to them that gives them even greater capacity to ward off cancer), and artichokes. I've never had Bok Choy (suppose to be like a Chinese cabbage I think) or artichokes, but I am going to start trying them.
I also eat oatmeal (excellent fiber) for breakfast with cinnamon (good for keeping blood sugar down) and lots of colorful fruits and veges. Blueberries are loaded with anti-oxidants too...and I am going to get some chia seeds (found them online) that are suppose to be the highest anti-oxidant food out there.
Sorry, got off on a tangent. Please know that I feel for you and you are more than welcomed to stay in touch with me and let me know how things go. To be honest with you I don't even get my mammo every 12 months, but more like every 16-18 months As I just do not think it is necessary but that is just my opinion.
I read on an online health ezine I get that some medical professionals are saying we only need pap smears every 2-3 years, every 3 years after age 30, and I've been getting them every year or 18 months too! So I may start getting them less often now. Cervical cancer supposedly is slow growing so they found it not necessary to test every year...
..so things are constantly changing! I am going to be 53 in a few days , and I still have not gotten a colonoscopy! I am not quite sure when I will get one of those..."
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