Hi everyone. When I saw my Dr today she gave me a refferal to have a mammogram.  I asked her why I would need one at my age and she said because I had been on a high dose of estrogen for 2 years. She said something about getting the baseline or something like that. I totally don't see why I need a mammogram at 19 years old. But she does my hrt so I can't argue with her or refuse to have it. I totally don't want to have it but I it looks like I don't have a choice. Has anyone had one? Does it hurt?

Not yet. but at my 6 month checkup, my doctor already told me that next year I will have to go. Given that i am mid 40's and there is breast cancer family history it would be pretty normal. Part of it may be that my HRT doctor is an OB/GYN. I do have mixed feeling about it. On one hand it is affirming that I have to go, on the other it hurts and the there is the dreaded wait for the results (usually takes about 10 days to get them).

The really sucking part is that I will also need a prostate exam...

I am also surprised that she is sending you at 19. but in the end: prevention is better than losing them...

Hugs

Quote from: Julia1996 on October 16, 2017, 07:07:30 PM
Hi everyone. When I saw my Dr today she gave me a refferal to have a mammogram.  I asked her why I would need one at my age and she said because I had been on a high dose of estrogen for 2 years. She said something about getting the baseline or something like that. I totally don't see why I need a mammogram at 19 years old. But she does my hrt so I can't argue with her or refuse to have it. I totally don't want to have it but I it looks like I don't have a choice. Has anyone had one? Does it hurt?

I have had one, and no they don't hurt. The machine was definitely invented by a guy but the whole experience was quite a sense of passage into the sisterhood. Just go with it and know it's part of being a woman.

Quote from: Julia1996 on October 16, 2017, 07:07:30 PM
Hi everyone. When I saw my Dr today she gave me a refferal to have a mammogram.  I asked her why I would need one at my age and she said because I had been on a high dose of estrogen for 2 years. She said something about getting the baseline or something like that. I totally don't see why I need a mammogram at 19 years old. But she does my hrt so I can't argue with her or refuse to have it. I totally don't want to have it but I it looks like I don't have a choice. Has anyone had one? Does it hurt?

I don't know about this specifically, but it's always a good idea to get a baseline. For instance, when I started a particular medicine they did an x-ray of my chest just for something to compare to later. (For explanation's sake, my medicine is associated with an increased susceptibility to Tuberculosis. And I guess TB is still a thing people get in the US, who knew?)

Quote from: sarah1972 on October 16, 2017, 07:49:09 PM
The really sucking part is that I will also need a prostate exam...

As long as they are not performed simultaneously by a doctor who works out a van.

Julia,
My partner used to say they hurt. They have upgraded the technique or equipment and it is much better. I went last year and it was nothing, pain wise.
Moni

Q: Why?
A: Because you are.  It's a ma'am-o-gram. 

The "Typical" recommendation is somewhere in your 40's and I think every 5 years. Perhaps the "On E" and maybe a relatively higher side E level?

I just saw my doc last week and she said "You are getting your first mammogram". We'll see what Horizon BCBS says about that. They sure can't reject on the "Age" part of the "Age and Gender" exclusion I was getting for my E.... every year

 I get a free pass on both mammograms and colonoscopies. It seems having a torso CT Scan every 3 months makes them unnecessary. I'm not sure if that's better or not. I have enjoyed reading their comments in the CT analysis report. I've been able to follow the progress on my "Gynecomastia" over this past 10 months. It seems I have a quite aggressive case on it on both sides of my chest. 

Hugs,
   Laurie

In an ideal world, all women would have a mammogram around 20, just as a baseline.. Another at 30, then again at 40, when more regular checks should be done.

Just stopping in to say that it didn't hurt even slightly when I had to have mine smashed pre-top surgery. It was awkward, embarrassing and frustrating but definitely not painful. The lady was like, 'Okay, I'm going to press it down now and I'll try to be quick, I'm sorry'. She did it... and I said (outloud) "You can smash it more if you need to, that literally feels like nothing". She just blinked.
The funniest part was at the end when she said something about the next time. I just chuckled and told her they were going in a medical incinerator later that week. More blinking ensued.

She's right, though. It's probably a good idea to have a baseline even if it's just to determine whether or not you have particularly dense breast tissue.

I have been on hormones since 1991, and never had to have a mammogram. It seems some doctors just like to refer people for tests for little to no reason. You would not believe some of the tests I have been referred for. My insurance refused to pay for most of them, because I was not old enough for them to be warranted. A mammogram was one of them. If insurance won't pay, I don't go for the test. The worst reaction I got from a physician, was when my insurance refused to pay for a colonoscopy at the age of 30. I was like "where am I going to get that kind of money to pay for a test I don't need?". I told him "make that referral when I am 60, and see if they pay for it then".

The latest recommendation for transgender females is to have mammograms. The increase in breast Ca appears small but there is no real science behind it as the cohorts are way too small for validation.

I've had mine and the modern mammograms are painless, a bit uncomfy as my boobs were small but the tech took care not to pinch my skin and was very reassuring and professional.

I'm now like Laurie, I've had so many CT's MRI's and PETs that any cell that divides is looked at with suspicion (just joking) and mammograms are unnecessary for me now.

I'm not sure about the USA but here every woman over 50 is given a free mammogram every 2 years as a precaution, so the techs are very experienced  boob squashers.