“If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of the others in our lives,” says Nicole Scialabba, a busy mother of three young boys and full-time lawyer. She knows how challenging it can be to fit everything into an already packed schedule.
At 42, she had delayed getting her first mammogram for two years—not out of fear, but because life simply got in the way. Like many women, the demands of family, work and daily life pushed important health screenings to the back burner.
But after a health scare earlier this year, Scialabba realized it was time to put herself first.
“I went to my dermatologist appointment because it had been a couple years since I did that, and they found a little basal cell skin carcinoma that was skin cancer,” she says. “After that, I knew I better go ahead and get all the things checked out that I need to get checked out.”
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Scialabba booked her mammogram at Tidelands Health Imaging at The Market Common, where she found the experience to be convenient and surprisingly quick.
Having witnessed her grandmother go through a battle with breast cancer, Scialabba wore her grandmother’s necklace to her appointment for good luck.
What to expect
Scialabba was a bit anxious for her first mammogram, but had researched the process to know what to expect.
After check-in, the mammography technologist took her to a private room, where patients change into a warm, pink gown. Patients are instructed to remove their tops, bras and necklaces, as well as wipe off any deodorant with the provided cleansing towelettes.
All personal items are locked in the private room during the mammogram. Patients are welcome to bring deodorant to reapply once the screening is finished, as well as any containers to store jewelry.
Care team members support patients through the process, answering any questions and explaining the technology.
Technology used for mammograms today has improved tremendously through the years, meaning better detection and more comfortability. Tidelands Health offers breast tomosynthesis, a three-dimensional view of breast tissue.
“It doesn’t hurt,” Scialabba says. “I know I heard horror stories growing up, and I always heard that getting your mammogram done is very painful, but it really wasn’t painful at all. It wasn’t even uncomfortable for me to stand there.”
If you do ever feel pain during your mammogram, please let your technologist know.
Why mammograms matter
Mammograms are the gold standard for early detection of breast cancer.
Tidelands Health recommends that women start getting annual mammograms at age 40, as early detection can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment.
“Mammograms can detect breast cancer before it’s palpable during a self-exam, making it a crucial tool for catching the disease in its earliest stages when treatment is most effective,” says Tidelands Health breast surgeon Dr. Craig Brackett, who practices at Tidelands Health Breast Center.
Getting the results
“There shouldn’t be apprehension about getting it done,” says Scialabba. “I just think if you’re over 40, getting this taken care of is something you can check off the list and help you feel a little bit more relief.”
Scialabba was able to access her mammogram results conveniently through the MyChart patient portal, which is available in the My Tidelands Health app and at tidelandshealth.org.
“I actually ended up getting my results the same day in MyChart, but I know that’s not always the case for everyone,” she says. “It gave me relief to know that the box was checked, and I could move on to the next thing on my list.”
Her results were unremarkable, meaning clear, and she won’t need to get another mammogram for another 12 months.
“Your health is worth it, and once it’s done, you’ll feel better knowing you took that step for yourself,” she says.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Craig Brackett
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