By about 5.30 this morning I had been up, taken the dog for her"wee" walk and thrown open the doors and windows. It's cool here today - 17 outside as opposed to the early mornings of 25 we've had through the week.
I made myself a coffee and sat in bed thinking how nice it was to feel a bit shivery in the cold wind blowing a gale through my bedroom windows. I had to shut them five minutes later as the rain began, but revelled in the sound of the wind whistling through one I had left open a crack. It's such a respite from the last few weeks of the stifling blanket of heat that has descended each day.
At 6 my phone dinged. Not altogether unusual; my daughter and I are both early risers and it's nothing for us to be texting before our day begins in earnest. This message was, however from B-Screen N.S.W, a reminder that my mammogram was due. In October 2013 I was sent off to a specialist by my doctor. It was a frightening time of scans, waiting, tests, examinations, more waiting. I was given the all clear thankfully but those weeks of not knowing were horrendous. To see the message at 6 am was sobering for a moment, remembering the shock and fear of finding a lump and then having a doctor say "Hmmmm, I don't like the look of this."
In this country, free breast screening is available to woman from 40 on, and is especially recommended for women aged between 50 -74 years.Why would you not?? It's not fail-safe, it's not perfect but it's the best we have at this point in time. Having seen a friend die a very long, and agonising death and knowing a number of friends who have won the battle I can't understand why women wouldn't take advantage of this FREE service. There aren't too many countries who offer this and we need to be grateful for a government that provides preventative services.
Our bodies have to last a long time. With advances in preventative medicine it's common sense to me to make use of the wonderful technology. And what about Pap smears? They're are a thing a lot of women have a problem with. Yes its uncomfortable, yes it's "damn! " when you realise it's due. And no I don't know anyone who thinks "oh yay, my pap smear is today." The thing is it needs to be done.
I have a friend - yes you know who you are - who is around my age and and told me a few years back that she had never; that's right NEVER had a pap smear!!!!! WHY? Well look out cause I'm afraid I'm going to bully you incessantly until you give up and go!! All women need to pull on their big girl panties and just do it!! Or in the case of a pap smear - take them off!!
As parents,as wives, friends, hell as a woman - we need to be pro-active about such things. We live in a privileged society, be grateful for the advantages it affords us.
Book your pap smear, have a mammogram. Stop procrastinating.
