Part of the SHE Cart package I availed from The Medical City Iloilo is a Sonomammogram. I had pap smear and intravaginal ultrasound previously and completing the SHE Cart package is my ultrasound for the breast.
While women fail to have regular pap smear, I think it’s worse when it comes to our breasts. It is quite ironic since breast cancer is more prevalent in recent years. Philippines alone has high cases of breast cancer. As reported in an article, ” Breast Cancer: Women’s No. 1 Enemy”,
Three out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast cancer by age 75 and 1 out of the 100 will die
-Philippine Society of Medical Oncology
The relatively low survival rate among breast cancer patients is due to the fact that patients only consult their doctor during advanced stage of cancer.
Are you at risk?
Even with public awareness on early detection of breast cancer, few women have regular check ups. Since I was a child, I was already aware about monthly breast self-exam and annual mammogram for women 40 and up.
At 36, I am at risk from my obesity and my mom’s history of breast cyst, I’m glad that I availed the SHE Cart Package where I can’t find any excuse not to have a breast ultrasound in Iloilo. If you have a history of breast cancer or even cyst, above 40, 30 with no children, and overweight, ladies I think it is time to get a breast ultrasound or a mammogram.
Scheduling and Preparing for Your Sonomammogram and Mammogram
One thing I learned about the procedures is that they depend on your monthly cycle. Hence, you have to know the first day of your last period. The radiology staff at The Medical City instructed me to inform them as soon as I have my period. I called them up and they gave me a schedule on when I can have my sonomammogram.
I was also instructed not to apply deodorant or anything on my breast like lotion. Why? These products will make your skin “glowing” or “shiny”, interfering with the imaging.
When I came for my tests, I was instructed to change and take off my clothes. Since the examination is only for the breast, there is no need to take off your lower garments unless you are wearing a dress.
I was asked some questions like if I breastfed my kids and a physical exam on my breast, looking for any moles.
For my She Cart Sonomammogram, it is not just a breast ultrasound, I also had a mammogram. If you are confused as I was, Sonomammogram is breast ultrasound while Mammogram is breast X-ray.
My First Mammogram Experience
The photos below are courtesy of The Medical City Iloilo and that’s not me since I can’t take photos during the procedures.
In reality, you will be top naked. First, your breast will be placed in a flat platform of the machine and then a clear paddle that looks like a small tray is placed on top to compress your boob. The rad tech will then get the image and do the same procedure to the other breast.
Images for your side boob will be taken and your radio tech will guide you on how to position your body like holding the end of machine’s bar. The same procedure is done to your other breast.
Rad tech may instruct you on when to breathe ( I think she asked me to hold my breath for a few seconds) to make sure she/he will get a clear image. Expect the radio tech to hold your boob – don’t worry they are trained and extra courteous.
Did it hurt?
I already conditioned my mind for the pain that I might feel since I always hear that it can be painful. With mine, I really didn’t feel any pain. I thought the rad tech will keep compressing my boobs until they are flatten but it didn’t happen. They only compress it to make sure there are no movements while taking the image.
I asked my rad tech if is it due to my breast size why I didn’t feel any pain but she said it really depends on the pain tolerance of the person. If you feel any pain during your mammogram, I think you are highly sensitive to pain since it was just nothing to me.
My First Sonomammogram Experience
After my breast X-ray, I went to the other room for my Sonomammogram – breast ultrasound. The procedure is pretty straightforward. If you had ultrasounds before, it is basically the same except that this time, it is your breasts.
Another difference is contrary to breast X-ray, a Sonologist performed the procedure. With a gel, he examined my breasts with the transducer probe. You will be asked to move sideways for the doctor to thoroughly exam your side boobs.
It was quick though I had to use the hospital gown to wipe off the gel because it was way too much for mere tissues to handle.
Mammogram or ultrasound?
This can be a question others might be asking. I only read online but so far, I read the both can have the same detection capabilities. I really don’t have to ponder on that since the Sonomammogram offered at The Medical City Iloilo also includes the breast x-ray. It gives me more assurance on how thorough my breast exams are.
My result:
I was asked to get my results in one week. My result came and it showed that I have a nodule in my right breast.
My result is as follows:
BI RADS Category 3, Right Breast: Probably Benign Findings
Short Interval Follow-up is Suggested
Category 3 means I have 98% chance that my nodule is benign but I need to repeat the procedure to monitor the nodule. With that, I will be going back to my ObGyn and I am expecting that I will be referred to The Medical City Breast Clinic from their Women’s Center.
I’m over the nervousness of finding out that I have a nodule in my right breast. I’m more grateful that I had the procedures, because I will know that I have it inside me. So ladies, early detection is the key. It may be benign and your doctor can give you the right treatment and medical advice like weightloss management.
Please pray for me and I’ll keep you posted!
SHE Cart Rates
She Cart – Php5,548 (inclusive of Pap Smear, TransVaginal Ultrasound, and Sonommamogram)
Individual rates: 1. Sonomamogram (Bilateral) – Php4,400
2. Transvaginal UItrasound – Php1,598
3. Pap Smear – Php250 (Doctor’s Fee) + Php400 (Laboratory Fee)
Thanks for reading!
