Editor’s Note: Meet Nedra McDaniel, a seasoned travel influencer who has embarked on incredible solo, partner and family vacations across the globe. It was her mom who first inspired this love of travel within her, making it difficult for Nedra when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. In this post, Nedra will share how she didn’t let her fear of going to the doctor stop her from getting a mammogram.
Managing My Health
My “word” for this year was “manage.” That’s because I have a desire to be a greater steward of my time, my health, my relationships and my business, and because I haven’t been managing all of those areas at the level I desire them to be.
The word “manage” also implies accountability and checking in on things. If you don’t measure it, how can it get better? Without a baseline for any area of your life, it’s harder to track progress or see areas where you may be losing ground.
This principle also applies to your health by establishing regular check-ins with your healthcare providers. I’m sharing this as someone who would prefer to avoid going to the doctor. I would rather be blissfully ignorant. But let’s be real, blissful ignorance doesn’t change my reality if there is an issue. Delaying check ups actually has a negative impact on my health. It can limit my options and can shorten my timeline for making important decisions.
If you’re like me and have a strong family history of cancer, you should get tested more often. My cancer family tree is unfortunately very prominent. The good news is that I’ve done the BRCA genetic testing and I don’t have the BRCA gene that is most commonly found in breast cancer. Even if you don’t have a family history of cancer, you should still be doing age-appropriate screenings. You may find these check up checklists helpful.
Discovering My Lapse in Testing
The bad news is that I recently discovered that my last mammogram was in 2018. Women of average risk who are 40 and older are recommended to get mammograms yearly. If you have a family history, you should start 10 years prior to your relative’s age at diagnosis. Clearly, I was a bit behind.
I had assumed that my last mammogram wasn’t that long ago. It was an area of my health that I haven’t managed well these past few years. I can easily blame it on my busy work and family schedule, the pandemic or the fact that I am slightly scared of going to the doctor.
Instead of setting a date far into the future that would give me a lot of time to stress about the appointment, I chose the deadline method and quickly booked a mammogram appointment. This gave me less time to think about it and get nervous.
Also, I knew that I would be sharing the importance of a mammogram and I couldn’t be hypocritical and base it on my previous experience from 2018. I’m not going to give you the “do as I say, not as I do” advice. I’m going to walk with you and say that if I can do it while feeling uncomfortable and scared, so can you. I wanted to share with you from a place that says I get it… but I also did it.
My mom and aunt had breast cancer, and my grandparents on the same side of the family had different forms of cancer. I understand the fear of the unknown, especially if you’ve supported a loved one with a cancer diagnosis. It can make going to the doctor hard because you start to associate it with only negative memories.
Thankfully, I was able to take the first step to overcoming my fear and quickly scheduled a mammogram after calling for an appointment. For me, the less time to think about the appointment in advance, the better.
Treating My Body Like A Luxury Car
So back to my word “manage.” I love any excuse for a road trip, and part of prepping for a successful trip is making sure that my vehicle and my health are in order. I would never let my car go without an oil change for multiple years because it would impact the rest of my vehicle. It only takes 15 minutes, and I make time for it.
Our bodies are our “vehicles” to get through this life, which is why it’s crucial to have regular check-ins with our healthcare providers so they have a baseline for our health. We don’t want them breaking down. We need to treat them like the Porsches and Rolls Royces that they are!
I also look out for other warning lights on my vehicle dashboard. When it comes to your health it’s essential to be aware of any changes you see or feel in your body and use that as a cue or “caution light” that you need to book an appointment with your healthcare provider.
My Mammogram Experience
I’ll now push through my fear and schedule my yearly mammograms – not just for myself, but also for my family and friends. Yes, the process can feel daunting, but it’s lifesaving and pretty painless! I had built the appointment up in my mind to be scary, but it was quick and put me at ease. Remember that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks: staying ahead of a diagnosis and potential early treatment is more important than going through a dreaded mammogram. Screening saves lives!
I am making it a priority to regularly schedule appointments for my health. Hopefully, this will also encourage you to book your appointments if it’s been a while since your last visit with a physician. You can use this checklist for recommended screenings and preventive measures for women and men. Or to schedule your own mammogram with OhioHealth online, visit OhioHealth.com/mammogram.
