It’s the day before Christmas, and you might still have a few things on your to-do list. There’s probably some cooking and baking still to do, maybe some cleaning, you might be planning to attend church services or a party, and you might have guests to pick up at the airport. You might even have a few things left on your shopping list.
You’re probably not thinking about a mammogram.
But this is actually a good time to think about it. This is the perfect time to schedule an appointment for your next mammogram — or your first one. The year is winding down and you may have some extra time before things get busy again.
Even if this is a busy time of year for you, it’s still a great time to make that appointment. As we head into the new year, you have plenty of calendar days to choose from, and that New Year feeling can help you do a little something for yourself after all these weeks of doing things for everyone else.
The American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Radiology, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network all have issued guidelines recommending regular mammograms as part of wellness care. Mammograms have been shown to reduce the risk of mortality from breast cancer by as much as 35%.
A mammogram may not be the thing you’re most eagerly waiting to see under your Christmas tree. But it may be the most important gift you can give yourself. And a reminder might be the best thing you can give your mom, your sister, or your best friend. The Breast Center is the place to go for mammograms in Northwest Arkansas.