I hope you enjoyed the long National Mammogram Day weekend! OK, I guess National Mammogram Day just can’t compete with the 4th of July or Labor Day. No parades, no fireworks, no backyard barbecues. Mammogram Day isn’t a really exciting day (maybe they can make it more like Mardi Gras?) but when you consider it, early breast cancer detection just might save your life and that’s certainly worth celebrating.

Even though I try to do self exams monthly, my doctor recommended that I start having regular mammograms when I turned 40. I was a little afraid because I heard that the test is awful and uncomfortable and hurts. Sure, it was uncomfortable and I can think of a long list of things that I would rather be doing. Of course, my friends battling breast cancer can tell you that the momentary discomfort of a mammogram is nothing compared to having breast cancer.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer kills tens of thousands of women in the U.S. each year, and a mammogram is currently the best method to detect breast cancer. With that in mind, get the facts and talk to your doctor about when it’s time for you to have your mammogram. The government funds local mammography programs, so if you don’t have the money for the test, look for free or low-cost mammograms in your area.