Dot Hatfield

First Person Limited

  • Subscribe to Dot’s blog
  • Home Page
  • About Dot Hatfield
  • Dot’s Books
    • Worth the Candle
    • Did Anyone Read My Story?
    • An Ordinary Day
    • R.I.P. Emma Lou Briggs
    • To Find a Home
    • The Last To Know
    • Every Day a New Day
  • Contact Dot

Breaking News

February 29, 2020 3 Comments

Heard on the 5:00 news: Someone has invented a soft, pink, pad to fit the icy, steel plate on the mammogram machine. The intent is to lessen the discomfort a patient (woman) might experience when taking the test.

Whoop-de-doo! After 50 years of using this instrument of torture, science has come up with an idea to make it easier on us. The technician being interviewed said some women might actually avoid their annual check-up because they are afraid of experiencing pain.

While I think it’s great to minimize the trauma of this procedure, most women are fairly familiar with discomfort. Can you say endometriosis? Or menstrual cramps? Child birth? Not to mention nursing a baby who is teething.

But, I guess that little pink pad is a step in the right direction.

About 30 years ago, I was scheduled for a needle biopsy. I arrived at outpatient registration about 8:00 a.m. — fasting. AKA no morning coffee. Three hours later, still fasting, I was taken to the lab for a pre-biopsy mammogram.

I had a raging caffeine-withdrawal headache and the technician seemed unfamiliar with her surroundings. I stood in front of the machine and “leaned in,” the best position for a good picture.

As my bare body touched the plate which had probably just come from the freezer, I felt a familiar aura.

“I’m going to faint,” I told the technician.

“Wait a minute,” she said.

Wait a minute? This is not a good time for you?

Sorry, I could not wait. When I woke on the floor, she was asking if we might try again. Success on the second try.

The fluid in the cyst was “suspicious,” which called for a lumpectomy. I consider that I survived a close call.

So, go ahead, women. Get that yearly check-up.

They have a soft, pink pad waiting for you.

Filed Under: Living my Life

«« Fun for Movie Buffs

I Know Something Good . . . »»


Comments

  1. Becky Lamb says

    February 29, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    3 years ago I had a mammogram at NLR Baptist Breast Care. They had a soft, white pad. Last year, it was gone. I had my test done this year at another facility. They didn’t have a soft pad. I did get the 3D 2D test. I liked it better than the old test because it was quicker.

  2. patlaster says

    February 29, 2020 at 11:46 pm

    Good post. I hadn’t read about the new pink pad. Imagine, my BFF making a blog post from such a piece of news. Yay! for Dot.

  3. Jane says

    March 1, 2020 at 6:24 pm

    Good post and good advice.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

My Books

  • Worth the Candle
  • Did Anyone Read My Story?
  • An Ordinary Day
  • R.I.P. Emma Lou Briggs
  • To Find a Home
  • The Last To Know
  • Every Day a New Day

POST Topics

  • Living my Life
  • Movies
  • Reading List
  • Somewhat Current Events
  • Television
  • Too General to Define
  • Writing

Pages of Interest

  • Reflections from Dorothy’s Ridge
  • Charles Prier
  • Pat Laster
  • Freeda Nichols
  • White County Creative Writers
  • The Looking Glass
  • Talya Tate Boerner

Recent Comments

  • Linda on Between All Hallows Eve and Christmas
  • Amber Bass on Between All Hallows Eve and Christmas
  • Dorothy Johnson on Between All Hallows Eve and Christmas
  • Gary on Don’t Worry
  • Linda Quade on Don’t Worry

© 2017 Dot Hatfield.