topic Mammograms in Wellness

Mammograms

db — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:30:06 GMT

I am on Medicare and you can only get a yearly mammogram which means that it is one year and a day every year that you are eligible to get a mammogram. I would love to have all my physicals, gyn/mammograms, dental checkups, etc in the spring(March) instead of November. Have any of you lovely ladies ever just delayed all of your appts out say three to four months so that you can do what I described? Thanks for your thoughts.

Re: Mammograms

151949 — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:34:22 GMT

Sure, why not? Just make your appt. for when you want them.

Re: Mammograms

January121 — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:39:50 GMT

I can't see why not ..... talk to your doctor & your insurance company to be 100% sure.

Re: Mammograms

kaydee50 — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:41:08 GMT

Of course. I tend to go every 18 months. Don't really see a need for a yearly physical if you're in good health.

Re: Mammograms

vermint — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:54:36 GMT

I'm like that, too...and do what I can to facilitate it! I like my gyno a lot, but the reason I chose him in the first place is they have on-site mammo and I can have that done before I see him.

Re: Mammograms

Trix — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:14:22 GMT

@db, You should convey to your doctors the plan to have all medical check ups in the spring. With regard to the mammogram-- unless there is a medical issue going on, I cannot imagine that the doctor would say that would not be ok to delay the November appointment until spring.

Re: Mammograms

Imadickens — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:38:45 GMT

😳 Uh, yep...I went four years in between my last two mamos! I'm due now, actually!🙄 I understand exactly what you mean! When I worked it was easier to do it all over the summer, but I was already at the end of August, so I either had to wait nearly an extra year or fit it into my work schedule! I waited three extra months a few times until I was on the schedule I wanted! How stupid! One a year is one a year! Why does it matter how far apart they are?

Re: Mammograms

HerRoyaLioness — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:43:08 GMT

When I had my yearly physical in December 2012, my dr told me to make sure and get my mammogram and I said I"ll schedule it for the next year and she said no, don't delay it, you are due for it now, so I had it done then, only because she said I should. I wasn't worried about it.

I had triple negative breast cancer, Stage II, grade 3. It hit me like a ton of bricks. This type is particularly aggressive and fast growing and I don't know where I would be today had I not gotten that mammogram when I did. Neither the dr or I had felt any lump.

This is not to scare you, but this is just what happened to me - I couldn't help but respond when I read this thread.

Wishing you the best.

Re: Mammograms

Laura14 — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 17:56:36 GMT

Yes. BCBS fought with my local providers and decided to pull coverage on the day I was scheduled to get all my checkups. They ended up settling at midnight but not before I had to cancel the appointment. I couldn't get back in for two months. Now, I have all my appointments around the holidays and I hate it.

Re: Mammograms

Gooday — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:44:19 GMT

Yes. I have the same restriction and I am not on Medicare and it cannot be coded as a screening either or the insurance will not pay.
I had a biopsy a few years back so, my PCP codes it as diagnostic/post biopsy.

Re: Mammograms

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 20:26:07 GMT

I may be wrong but I think all insurance companies are like that. I have Medical Mutual and I have to wait a full one year before I can have a mammogram, gyno check-up or wellness exam.

I actually am about to cancel my gyno appointment and reschedule it to next year because I got off track with my annual exam and mammo. Had mammo in April but annual isn't until November. I think I'm going to cancel and reschedule to April to keep everything together.

Re: Mammograms

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 20:27:58 GMT

@HerRoyaLioness wrote:
When I had my yearly physical in December 2012, my dr told me to make sure and get my mammogram and I said I"ll schedule it for the next year and she said no, don't delay it, you are due for it now, so I had it done then, only because she said I should. I wasn't worried about it.

I had triple negative breast cancer, Stage II, grade 3. It hit me like a ton of bricks. This type is particularly aggressive and fast growing and I don't know where I would be today had I not gotten that mammogram when I did. Neither the dr or I had felt any lump.

This is not to scare you, but this is just what happened to me - I couldn't help but respond when I read this thread.

Wishing you the best.

You being around a lot longer was meant to be, that's why that all worked out! I hope you have continued on in good health.

Re: Mammograms

embgm — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 21:07:10 GMT

Herlioness I had the same scenario with my mammograms. I told my doctor I would get it done when I'm off work in December. It was August. She said no go over and see if they can take you today. The mammograms were done at the same facility. So I went and was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. I M so happy my doctor pushed me to have them done. I should have had them done in May. A few months can make a big difference! Em

Re: Mammograms

HerRoyaLioness — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 21:37:51 GMT

@Lipstickdiva - yes, because I didn't delay my (very important) mammogram I wouldn't have been diagnosed and wouldn't have been around to tell you this!

Thanks for your well wishes, I truly appreciate the extra time I have had.

Re: Mammograms

HerRoyaLioness — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 21:41:21 GMT

@embgm - I think there are many of us around that are really glad we didn't delay that decision to get our mammograms!

Bless our doctors for staying with the recommended protocol it CAN and did in our cases make a life and death difference.

Re: Mammograms

maestra — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 22:49:31 GMT

My BFF (another b/c survivor) told me would drive me herself when I told her I didnt feel up to a mammo. Bless her, I was diagnosed 1 year ago, stage 1, grade 2 b/c early invasive and DCIS.

Re: Mammograms

db — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 01:55:55 GMT

OMG I never thought of all these awful things. I have been having mammograms every year since I have been 30 and thought it would be nice if I could get all my doctor stuff done in the spring and enjoy the rest of the year. I am terrified now after reading some of these posts that 3 months delay could be a death sentence. Take care.

Re: Mammograms

OnlyShopsOnline — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 05:38:17 GMT

I rarely go at exactly one year. I always deviate by a few months. A friend of mine missed her yearly and was 3 months late. A very aggressive cancer was found early.

If she had gone on time, it would have been too small to be detected. And, a year later the cancer would have been too advanced.

It's hard to know how to play the "game." But, I never let it go as long as two years.

Re: Mammograms

Bibione — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 17:45:21 GMT

I have my mammogram every year.I heard stories of women who found cancer after having clean mammograms

Re: Mammograms

HerRoyaLioness — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:42:20 GMT

@db - just keep your appt for your mammogram for November then, easy solution - we don't want to "terrify" you. These are our true stories, but that doesn't mean it happens to everyone. You had ask if there would be any concern in delaying your mammogram and yes, there was in some of our cases. It is a serious matter, but you can't live in fear over it.

And if there is ANYTHING suspicious, it will show, no matter how small. They always compare last year's to the current one to see if there are any changes.

Hope you have a negative result whenever you decide to have it.

HRL