54 Arrıve • July/August 2014 •
arrivemagazine.com
wearing exam gloves. There’s a wee bit
of discomfort but nothing you need to
discuss with the boys down at the pub.
In fact, it’s over in less than 30 seconds.
Based on the digital rectal exam
(that’s the highfalutin term for it), your
doctor may ask for more diagnostic
tests, like a blood screening called the
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test,
which is used to detect abnormalities.
Mine came out normal, so I don’t have
to give this another thought—until next
January, when my wife and I will once
again pick up the phone together.
She Said
I’m actually as bad as my husband when
it comes to scheduling doctor’s visits.
LISTEN TO THE BENEFITS
OF MAMMOGRAMS
Early detection is essen-
tial to giving you the best
chance at beating cancer.
Yet not enough women have
an annual mammogram. Visit
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention online to listen to
a podcast about this important
screening. Go to
www2c.cdc.
gov/podcasts/ index.asp and
type “Get Your Mammogram”
in the search box.
TO SCREEN OR NOT TO SCREEN
When it comes to screening for prostate cancer, there is some
controversy. Because it is such a slow-growing form of the
disease, some practitioners consider no treatment at all to be
an appropriate measure. and, according to the centers for
Disease control and prevention, some treatments can cause
serious side effects, such as impotence and incontinence.
is to avoid scheduling the screening
the week before your period, when
your breasts are most tender. So I did
that and showed up bright and early—
without deodorant, as they also advise.
(Deodorant, perfume and powder can
leave white spots on the X-ray, which
could be misinterpreted and require a
follow-up exam.)
Within moments of checking in,
a nurse led me to the changing area,
where I was given a gown and a locker
for my belongings. After I was properly
attired, she led me to the room where
the machine awaited. Yes, it’s intimidat-
ing, but the technician was sensitive,
talking me through each step: “I’m going
to place your breast on the plate.” ... “It
might pinch a little at your armpit.” ...
“I’m going to lower the top plate; you’ll
feel a squeezing sensation.” ... “Stand
very still.”
She walked over to a panel of but-
tons and pressed a few. The machine
hummed, and after a few seconds, she
was back by my side. Lifting. Chatting.
Assuring. Pressing more buttons. Then
we were done.
It took about 15 minutes total. And as
I walked back to my locker and dressed
for the day, I felt empowered. I was
taking care of my health. I can’t fully
control what ailments may occur in the
future, but I can do my best to prevent
them and detect them early.
A few days later, I got a call from the
lab telling me that my breasts were fine.
“Of course they are,” my husband said,
with a wink.
I’ve used all the excuses: “no time,” “no
need,” “no way!”
In fact, until we formed our pact, I
had gone more than five years between
my first mammogram at 40 and my most
recent one. But cancer killed my mother,
and my father died from complications
caused by a slew of chronic yet prevent-
able health conditions. These are facts my
husband reminds me of (in a nice way)
each time the excuses start flying. So,
now I confer with my physician during an
annual physical, and schedule my screen-
ings according to his recommendations.
This year, it was mammogram time.
As always, I was anxious about the
potential pain. One way to minimize
the discomfort, physicians recommend,
plus, the blood test to detect
levels of prostate-specific antigen
in the bloodstream can raise un-
due alarm, says ira Dreyfuss of
the U.s. Department of health and
human services.
“the problem is that, while psa
is higher with prostate cancer, it
also can be higher due to other
health problems, such as inflamma-
tion, obesity and benign prostate
disease,” he says. it’s best to con-
sult with your healthcare profes-
sional about whether a psa test is
right for you.
similarly, women should talk
with their physician about the
appropriate schedule for mam-
mography screenings. in recent
years, national organizations have
given women conflicting advice
about when and how frequently to
have breasts screened for cancer.
at one point, the national cancer
institute said it did not recommend
universal mammogram screening
for women in their 40s, but it has
reversed that position. avoid con-
fusion by seeking guidance from
the physician who knows you best.
