Fear No Excuse to Avoid Mammograms, Says Rose Galleria Physician

by Rae Miller

There's no arguing that breasts are closely associated with what makes a female a female. They are revered for their role in motherhood and sexuality, and the countless selection of lacy underthings for sale at any lingerie store confirms this.

So when any part of that is threatened, fear sets in.

Some women are afraid to get mammograms because they're worried the results might dictate their future.

Dr. Janet Hoagland, a physician who practices at The Rose, a Houston nonprofit breast cancer screening organization, understands this fear. She experienced it herself.

"Sometimes it's overwhelming," Hoagland admits. "It's easier to be an ostrich and put your head in the sand and hope it goes away. Getting breast cancer means losing control. It's out of your hands. You have to depend on other people to give good advice and do the right procedures,” she says. “That's why it's so scary."

In Hoagland’s case – scary or not – she knew she had to go for a mammogram. Her mother died of breast cancer at age 44, her grandmother at 48.

Hoagland's mammogram revealed a lump with the potential to grow into breast cancer. She took control of the situation and made the decision to undergo a preventive double mastectomy – at age 27.

The reasons women are scared to get a mammogram are as varied as the women themselves.

One fear is exposure to radiation.

"A mammogram gives no more radiation than sitting in the window seat of an airplane flying from New York to California," Hoagland says. "That's definitely no reason to be afraid of a mammogram."

After losing her mother to breast cancer at a young age, Houston resident Helia Forouzan, 29, had her first mammogram a few years ago in Austin.

She was scared.

"What if I had breast cancer? Would I ever have a boyfriend? Would he leave me if I had to have a double mastectomy? What if, what if, what if? It was driving me to distraction so I finally just went for the mammogram."

After everything appeared to be fine, she was so relieved she didn't even bother with monthly self breast exams anymore.

But later, without even trying to, she came across a lump.

Once again, she was afraid of what the mammogram would reveal. She worried about the two big "C"s – Cancer and the Cost of treating it.

Forouzan did have cancer, diagnosed by Dr. Hoagland at The Rose.

Hoagland advised her patient that the last thing she should worry about was the cost. She should only be concerned about getting better.

The Rose patient navigators helped Forouzan find appropriate treatment.

"Now, I always tell women, ‘it’s better to know than not know,’” Forouzan says. "You have the mammogram and either you have cancer or you don't. And you go from there."

And remember, when detected early, breast cancer has a 98 percent survival rate.

Some women are afraid of the discomfort or pain of having a mammogram. And there's no avoiding the fact that a mammogram requires squishing – or "compression," if you prefer the medical term.

The Rose radiologist Dr. Ward Parsons can't technically or honestly say "this won't hurt a bit," but he does say there are certain things women awaiting a mammogram can do.

Women can take an over-the-counter pain reliever an hour before the appointment to take the edge off, he says. Or if she knows her breasts are tender at certain times of the month, schedule the mammogram for when they're not.

Unless it's an emergency, that is. “If you feel a lump, go right away,” says Parsons.

While the size of a woman’s breasts has little to do with the risk of cancer, it does have a lot to do with positioning and getting a good mammogram, Parsons says.

"Extremely small breasts take a little more work,” he says. “But we do men, and it works. So if we can do men, then we can do women," says Parsons. "Extremely large breasts might require additional images, but they are generally more fatty and therefore less sensitive."

Parsons says his technologists often ask patients how a mammogram compares to a dental cleaning or a pap smear.

"Women usually say they would rather have a mammogram any day," says Parsons.

Another tip: If you're still a little leery, try to schedule lunch with a friend after the appointment – it will give you something to look forward to. Or, take somebody with you to the mammogram.

That's what Houston resident Mary Jo Rapini did.

"At one time I thought I had a lump on my breast and had to go back for numerous tests," Rapini said. "It turned out to be okay, but what really helped me was my husband with me, reminding me that no matter what it was, we would handle it together. It gave me confidence."

If you're still scared to go for a mammogram, think of your own mother – or your children.

"You're teaching your children that you are taking care of your body, so it sets a precedent," says Rapini, a licensed professional counselor, author and psychotherapist who used to counsel patients at Southwest Cancer Center in Lubbock. "Mom is the catalyst of the family."

That is exactly Dr. Janet Hoagland's point.

"If we can save the mother," she says, "we can save the family."

The Rose has two locations: The Rose Medical Plaza in southeast Houston and the new Rose Galleria on West Loop South.

For an appointment, call (713) 668-2996. For more information about The Rose, visit the organization’s website, www.therose.org.