How many times have you skipped your own appointment because someone else needed you more?
I’m turning 45 this month. My last real checkup was my postpartum visit, and my son is four. I’ve spent over 20 years in healthcare, and I still haven’t booked my mammogram or my colonoscopy. So this episode is me holding myself accountable, out loud, with you.
If you’re a military spouse running a wellness business, I see you. New duty station, new doctors, new referrals, a spouse in the field, and nobody to watch the kids. The excuses feel real. But it’s not love if it leaves you running on empty.
In this episode:
- Why we use our families, clients, and businesses as the excuse to go last
- What the current screening guidelines say for mammograms and colon screening
- Why only about 38% of Latinas have a recent mammogram on record
- My own story: abnormal cells caught early through a Pap smear, and a heart condition found only after I pushed for a stress test
- How to be your own patient advocate when a doctor dismisses you
- The lifeguard lesson every caretaker needs to hear
Quick answers
When should women start getting mammograms?
Current U.S. guidelines recommend a mammogram every other year starting at 40 for women at average risk. Talk to your provider about starting earlier if you have a family history.
When should colon cancer screening start?
At 45 for adults at average risk. With a family history, you may need to start sooner.
What do I do if my doctor dismisses my symptoms?
Write your questions down before you go. Ask “What else could this be?” Ask your provider to explain the reasoning behind a recommendation. If you still don’t get an answer, get a second opinion.
Why do women put their health last?
Most women put loved ones’ needs ahead of their own healthcare. We use our kids, partners, clients, and businesses as the reason to wait. For military spouses, every move adds new doctors, new referrals, and no backup childcare. It feels like love, but skipping care leaves you running on empty.
Your quick win: Write down the date of your last checkup, mammogram (40+), Pap smear, and dental cleaning. If you can’t remember one, that’s the appointment you book this week. Then set a recurring calendar reminder so future you doesn’t have to remember.
Stats mentioned:
- 81% of women regularly put loved ones’ needs ahead of their own healthcare (Teal Health, State of Her Health 2026)
- 1 in 3 moms has delayed her own care for a family member’s (Zocdoc Women’s Health Report, 2024)
- More than 40% of women have skipped or delayed a recommended test (Gallup/Hologic, 2024)
- About 38% of Latina women had a recent mammogram on record, and Latinas are diagnosed with breast cancer about 7 years younger than White women on average (TechTarget, reporting on EHR research)
- Screening guidelines: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Chapters
00:00 Why we put ourselves last
01:13 A healthcare pro still avoiding care
03:53 The excuses and the real cost
06:15 Screening guidelines that matter
08:14 Listen to your body
09:09 Advocate for yourself and get second opinions
09:38 My Pap smear story
12:45 My heart condition and being dismissed
17:10 The lifeguard lesson
18:22 Quick win: book the appointment
19:48 Recap and my birthday commitment
Follow along:
I’m sharing the real version of booking my mammogram and colonoscopy, scared parts included.
Instagram: @empowerherwave
Personal: @heyitsanacani
Join my free community: https://www.skool.com/content-sparks-8850/about
This episode is for education, not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about the screening schedule that’s right for you.
