I do not have mammo advice, but I do have tears of joy to share.
I've mentioned my friend going through esophageal cancer a couple of times here...once he had his stomach removed (a journey in and of itself) and went through all the horrible chemo and radiation, he thought he was home free.
And then.
He got a diagnosis of lymphoma, wide-spread.
He attempted the chemo for that and decided that dying would be easier on him. He stopped all treatment and went his own path.
When I saw him a couple of weeks ago, he was super thin and had almost no energy, but was pretty set on his own course of treatment, which included 'everything...so much of everything, I could not even tell you what or how much.' (nutrition changes, Chinese herbs and acupuncture primarily)
Yesterday, he got the results of his most recent battery of tests.
His doctor said, and I quote him quoting him, "All signs of disease have melted away."
I had to have him repeat it over the phone a couple of times just so I could be sure I heard him correctly.
He is still thin and needs to build his strength back, but he is through with hospitals.
One doctor said, "Well, it could come back next year" to which my friend declared, "Fuck that."
He's going to continue the regimen he set for himself and still hasn't quite processed what this means. He's sleeping a lot and working to get past the 'I'm sick' mindset. But here he is, cancer free.
I don't even know what to say other than, in a world of so much pain and illness and disappointment, there _are_ success stories.
When I asked my friend what he thought the number one thing he did that contributed to this outcome might be...I thought he'd say acupuncture, since that is his profession...he said, "I think I just wanted to SHOW them." (meaning his doctors)
I don't care one way or the other. I'm just so, incredibly grateful.