Instant Bircher muesli. Free breast cancer screening. What have you learned lately?

Women are gatherers of information. Compulsively. All the time. Some of it is not very important (the names of Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller’s twin babies are Max and Bob), other stuff can change your life (when your iphone freezes, you reset it by holding down the power button and the menu button simultaneously for a few seconds while praying whatever higher power controls technology and communication to PLEASE save your arse).

Also, what may be trivial to you might be meaningful to someone else so it’s always fascinating to learn new things.

I received the following email recently from a woman who discovered something VERY important about free breast screening that could help lots of women and it got me thinking how valuable it is to have somewhere to regularly share those morsels of new info.

Here’s what Cherry Prior wrote to me:

The timing was just brilliant. She mentioned it after I’d already removed my shirt and bra, as she was grabbing my left breast and pulling it up and onto the lower plate of the mammography machine. “You know you can get these done through Breastscreen don’t you, if you’re 40 or older. Everyone thinks you have to be 50, but it’s not it’s 40.” She then lowered the top plate, squashing my flesh, so that it was flat enough to get a good image.

Yesterday I went for my first mammogram – both breasts. I have had some breast tenderness and lumps, but I, along with my GP, was confident it was purely hormonal changes. Having the tests was merely a precaution. After all that I’d heard I expected it to be painful, but really it was just awkward. Definitely less intrusive than your regular Pap smear, but please, leave your airs and graces at the door. I also had a breast ultrasound (both breasts). I’ve only ever had ultrasounds when I’ve been pregnant and also when I had miscarriages. There was nothing wrong with the way the ultrasound was done, but there was obviously none of the excitement or tenderness associated with new life. The gel was cold and sticky, the process just that – something you get through to be at the other side, to get a result. No joy, but no big deal either.

There was a bit more pain when it came to paying the bill: $359.60 – $156.85 for the mammogram and $202.75 for the ultrasound.  I was referred by my GP to a private radiology provider with consulting suites in a public hospital. I will get $164.60 back through Medicare, but it means I’m $195 out of pocket. For me, that’s worth the peace of mind. But for others less well off, that might be a whole lot of money that they just can’t spare. And for a test that I viewed as purely precautionary, well, maybe if things were tighter, I might just put it off.

The thing is, if you’re over 40, you don’t have to put it off because you can be screened for breast cancer at Breastscreen clinics throughout Australia free of charge. I wish I’d known that before I got my shirt off. Now I still wouldn’t have been covered for the ultrasound, but I’d have another $85 in my pocket for the mammogram alone. Here in Victoria,  women aged 40 and older can get mammograms at one of nine venues (including a mobile Breastscreen service). Throughout Australia there are Breastscreen clinics in more than 500 locations. While women aged 50 to 69 are the targeted age range (for whom a program of regular screening is offered), women aged 40 and older can get mammograms if they wish. So if your doctor refers you for a mammogram, ask for Breastscreen rather than a private provider. It’ll save you a few bucks and give you the peace of mind you are after.

The national Breastscreen booking number is 13 20 50.

Image by cbooties

Excellent. OK, my turn.

From the important to the absolutely trivial. Ever since I did the health retreat thing, I’ve been in love with Bircher muesli for breakfast. The problem is that you have to soak it overnight and I can never remember to do that because lately I’ve been working until I pass out dribbling on my keyboard.

Then every morning I go to make breakfast and think…D’OH!

And it’s Weet Bix again.

But! Wait! I’ve discovered that if you pour boiling water over your bircher as soon as you remember, then just wait for it to cool, it’s just like it’s been soaking overnight! Really!

Are you still even reading this or are you like why is she so excited about bloody rolled oats she needs to get a life or possibly some more sleep.

Anyway, I’m sure you’ll agree that sharing is caring so what have you learned lately….?

Pass it on.