Musing on Save the Ta-tas. Save YOU.
“Caffeine really affects breast tissue.”
“Like coffee?” I mouthed back. Leaving off that I drink coffee from sun-up to sundown.
This came from my good friend and running buddy, Kim Sitzmann.
Yes — dear friend and marathon mama, she also a very handy with one of these.
Just like a purdy model on "The Price is Right."
And since there is so much pink flying around these days, I took an unofficial visit with her today to chat about mamos.
I wondered… what is the main reason women put off a visit to the breast press?
“People don’t come because they’re afraid it will hurt or they are afraid of the outcome.”
Well. I can see being afraid of the outcome. I asked how often does she see women who come in after finding a lump.
All the time. Her last appointment before I blew in on this cool, blustery day was a 33 year old who had found a lump. She was the second one Kim had seen today before noon.
“Usually it’s nothing. Cysts or fibrocystic changes in the breast, especially around the menstrual cycle.”
Then she got to the caffeine part.
“If you feel something odd in your breast and you are a heavy coffee or coke drinker — back off the caffeine and start drinking lots of water — and see how it changes your breast tissue.”
“Caffeine affects your breasts that much?”
She nodded affirmative.
I asked to see her credentials.
Yup. That's her.
Kim gave me my last mammogram earlier this year. A very thorough one I might add.
Morgan Memorial (MM) now has digital capabilities so patients get the same snapshot of their breast as they would in Atlanta, Athens or Conyers. We just have to specify to our doctors we want MM and Kim. 🙂
I asked about other misconceptions.
“People always seem to think it’s easier on those with big breasts. For me — the small breast is easier. The larger-breasted women, we have to take more pictures. That’s the space I’m working with,” she said gesturing…
"If your breast is larger than this...we have to divide you up"
I’ve always been a one-shot wonder myself.
Kim laughed assuring me that most women are. But there are women with whom they need to take up to four pictures.
Nope. Not me.
I asked about implants — not that I have ever polled my friends — but I’m sure that’s pretty common these days.
“With implants we take two pictures. One with the implant in place, then one where we physically have to push the implant back and out of the way.”
How important are yearly screenings? I asked with all the sincerity a mom-with-a-blog-medical-reporter could muster.
“Many women come in here for their regular screenings not suspecting anything and we find something.”
“But the main thing women need to do is self breast exams. That is number one.”
Kim advised getting to know your breasts and know what is normal for you.
A few other insights…
* Baseline mammogram at age 35.
* Annual mammogram after age 40.
* Exception. If your mother had breast cancer, your initial screening should be 10 years earlier than her diagnosis. For example, if your mother had breast cancer at age 40, your first screening should be at age 30.
* Men don’t get a breast cancer pass. Kim had a patient who was a husband and father. He had felt a lump in his breast for over a year. Finally his wife persuaded him to get checked out and it was cancer. He had a mastectomy and radiation.
Kim made the point if locals have their mammograms at Morgan Memorial, it takes about 45 minutes out of their day. If someone travels to Athens, it might take half day of work.
To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month, if you have your test performed at Morgan Memorial in October look at this neat take away.
It's got a nice screw lid, pink bracelet (which I'm wearing) and pink pin inside.
So be sure to schedule a mammogram if your are older than 40.
Thanks so much Kim.
And get to know your breasts. Like right now, darn it. They’ve been good to you, so be good to them.
How good are you about monthly self-exams?
I turn 35 next May and I actually have started doing them in the shower every few weeks. You hear of so many people in their 30’s that have breast cancer, it is important to check up and, well as you said, get to know your ta-ta’s. Very informative post!
Elena – do as I say, do as I do, not do much. My talk with Kim was a good reminder for me. I did find something once and had it checked. This is something important for our children as much as ourselves.
That’s so interesting about the caffeine. And I know that you wrote a serious post, but I’m so 100% a one shot wonder, too, I couldn’t help but giggle.
Liz. The one thing us “one shots” having going for us is that it’s easier to find things. Not much square footage for a bump to hide.
Love this post and the pictures!
I turn 35 next year – I had NO IDEA a baseline mammogram was recommended. Retweeting immediately!!
Ryan, I had no idea that so many women found things through a mammogram that they had not detected. But I think the main thing is if we need to know what is normal for our breast — and then we can hopefully tell when things feel different/
I knew about the caffeine thing, because I had horrible cysts about 8 years ago and had to give up caffeine cold turkey. It wasn’t fun! But neither are lumpy boobs, so I did it.
I’m 31 now and my grandma had breast cancer, so I know it won’t be long before I start the mammograms.
Greta. I guess I had heard about the caffiene connection a long time ago – but never understood the dramatic effect it can have. It’s made me rethink my coffee intake — and lack to of water intake as well.
I had never heard this about caffeine. My morning mochas may have to go!
I found a lump a couple of years ago (wrote about it of course) and had a biopsy…thankfully it was just fibrocystic tissue but at the same time my MIL was diagnosed with breast cancer. Crazy, scary time for her. Relief for me. I have lumpy boobs and the right one is lumpier than the left. You’re welcome. 😉
I’ve cut back on fully leaded Cokes but I have to have my morning cup of coffee!
p.s. I am diligent now, of course, about annual mammograms and for a while had them every 6 months after the biopsy.
Glad everything is okay…lumpy breasts and all. We all just need to know what is normal for us. Was just talking with someone this morning who is in middle of investigating something they found while doing a mammogram. She said her mother had lots of cysts but never cancer. So good news is that most of the time it is normal breast changes.
Finding a lump I think is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a woman. Therefore every woman has to check herself regularly, because early cancer is curable!! and actually in many cases the lump is not a cancer. Be brave:)
This was really informative for me!
You make me laugh so much Jamie, This is a pretty good article if I say so myself. I do love my job! I however, want to point out, and this is something I failed to mention in our interview, that many woman may feel lumps in their breast so they have the mammogram and are all scared, as I would be too! But, after having the additional views and ultrasound to follow-up, 80% of the finding a benign! That my dear is very encouraging! Love you!!!!!!
After reading the title of your blog I was disappointed to learn it was about woman’s health.
my daughter proud if her
Chris – you should be. She is very professional and a highly skilled technician. She is helping save lives. And she’s a very beautiful person inside and out as well.