Ladies Health

[kate_turner2000]

just letting you know i booked my pap smear for the 7th december a couple of weeks before i am due for one but its all good (i was so distressed watching belinda emmetts funeral on the news! are you ever too young to have a mammogram and is it covered by medicare?)

[masm]

You guys have inspired me, I have never had a pap smear either but I have looked up my old family gp and will make an appointment with her over Christmas

[kate_turner2000]

well done! it is a big step but just think these things save womens lives!! very proud of you

[Butterfly_Dawn]

I have mine regularly. But to be honest, i don't to the breast checks, which I should, but I just don't know what I'm looking for!!

My worst experience was when I went and laying there, semi nakie, the Dr (who incidentally I had never seen before) says "I'll just check your blood pressure".

Exactly what she was expecting I don't know, but the result was that for the next 6 months I had to get my blood pressure checked every month because of the concern of 'high blood pressure'

[Mandie]

Good on you girls!


Kate - assuming you don't have a family history of breast cancer (i.e. mother or aunt who had it young) then there is no indication to have a screening mammogram before age 50.

All women aged 50 and above in Australia can get free mammograms every two years.

As for breast self examinations, the best advice is to simply "know your breasts". Just notice when you are washing in the shower or whatever if you feel any lumps. It is quite common to have some cysts or lumpiness around your period. If you notice this, observe it and see if it goes away during the month.

If you notice any new lumps that don't go away, have pain from the breast, notice discharge/bleeding from the nipple, or are AT ALL concerned, see your GP and ask for a breast exam.

You should also ask your GP to do one every two years when you get your pap smear, just to make sure you haven't missed anything!

Breast cancer is actually quite uncommon in young women without a family history of the disease, so don't worry! The risk goes up much higher after menopause, which is why screening is offered to women over 50.


Hope this information helps, if you want to know anything else, just ask!

[kate_turner2000]

ay ay captain! thanks mandie for that. i just the breastscreen bus at the shopping centre the other day and they do the screening in them and i didnt know whether it was common for young women to get it done or not. im quite aware of my body. i thought i had a lump in my neck i had never felt before and the dr couldnt feel it. he didnt know what i was going on about lol.

[Mandie]

lol oh kate us medical students are the WORST

I think I've been to my doctor about 5 times for breast "lumps" that no-one else can feel.. and neck "lumps"... lol

better safe than sorry I always say!

[Ally]

I agree Mandie I would rather the doctor say there is nothing wrong than hear the words.."if only you had of come in sooner". With Belinda Emmett she had publicly warned women to not ignore any new lumps as she had done (in her own words in an interview once she said that she had found the lump, but ignored it and didn't get it checked for a while).....hindsight is a wonderful gift and so are 'if only's', but IF she had of had it checked rather than leave it, the outcome MAY have been different, I guess it just makes us all a little bit more on our toes to know our bodies and not to hesitate to get things checked out. I believe she fought a great fight and I feel for her family, but in particular her hubby, I hope the media now leaves him alone to grieve for his soul mate and love of his life.