Episode 25
Mammograms & More: A Deep Dive with Marsha Dunn
Chaundria Singleton welcomes Marsha Dunn to explore the fascinating world of mammography and radiology in a heartfelt and engaging conversation. With over 25 years of experience in the field, Marsha shares her journey from general X-ray to becoming a specialist in mammography, a path that was influenced by her personal experiences and her family’s health history. Chandriya, who has her own story of being proactive about breast health due to a family history of breast cancer, emphasizes the importance of education and awareness in women's health issues. Together, they discuss the emotional aspects of mammography, where patients often confide in technologists about their fears and stories, highlighting the trust established in these intimate healthcare settings.
The conversation also delves into the technical advancements in mammography technology, particularly the shift from traditional film to 3D tomosynthesis. Marsha explains how this innovation allows for more precise imaging, enhancing the ability to detect issues that may not be visible in standard 2D images. The duo also addresses common misconceptions about mammograms, especially regarding the discomfort associated with the procedure. They advocate for better communication between technologists and patients to alleviate fears and emphasize that the discomfort is a small price to pay for potentially life-saving diagnostics.
Both women express a desire to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Marsha's commitment to education is evident as she discusses her new role as a breast consultant and educator, aiming to promote knowledge about mammography and empower women to take charge of their breast health. They conclude with an encouraging message about the diverse opportunities within the medical field, urging listeners to explore careers in radiology and emphasizing the critical role that technologists play in patient care.
Takeaways:
- Mammography is a critical part of women's health, and education around it is essential.
- Marsha Dunn emphasizes the importance of proper patient care and communication during mammograms.
- Radiology offers various career paths, including specialized roles that can be pursued quickly.
- Understanding the technology behind mammography helps demystify the process for patients.
- Travel assignments in radiology provide opportunities for professional growth and better pay.
- You should conduct regular breast self-exams and be proactive about your health.
This episode dives deep into the world of mammography technology, featuring expert Marsha Dunn, who brings over 25 years of experience to the conversation. Chaundria Singleton, your host, shares her personal journey with breast health, emphasizing the importance of education and awareness in this crucial field. The discussion highlights how advancements like 3D tomosynthesis are revolutionizing breast imaging and improving patient outcomes. Marsha candidly addresses common misconceptions about radiation exposure during mammograms, reassuring listeners that it’s one of the safest imaging options available. The episode encourages everyone, especially women, to take charge of their health by being proactive with exams and understanding the technology behind mammography.
Thanks for listening to this episode on A Couple of Rad Techs Podcast! If you enjoyed this show, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to hit the subscribe button to be notified of our latest episodes. Thanks again for listening, and we'll see you next time!
mammography technology, radiology careers, women's health, breast cancer awareness, radiologic technologist, 3D mammography, mammogram education, travel medical imaging, breast ultrasound, radiology programs, mammography certification, patient care in mammography, healthcare careers, mammography experiences, women's health education, mammography benefits, radiology advancements, mammogram myths, breast self-exams, radiology job opportunities
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Transcript
Welcome everybody to let's Chit Chat wellness and travel.
Chandriya Singleton:I'm Chandriya Singleton.
Chandriya Singleton:I am so excited to be here and this is our brand new segment on the field of radiology.
Chandriya Singleton:I am excited to have my first guest, Marsha Dunn.
Chandriya Singleton:Marsha and I go way back.
Chandriya Singleton:I didn't even remember how we met.
Chandriya Singleton:She reminded me I thought it was in the hospital, but it was not.
Chandriya Singleton:We actually met through real estate and a mutual friend that was in radiology and I that's been at least 10 to 15 years.
Chandriya Singleton:It's been a wonderful friendship.
Chandriya Singleton:I've learned so much about mammography and she's here to share with us about this amazing field and her experience and how you can be educated about such an important topic.
Chandriya Singleton:Near and dear to my heart because I had my first breast lump at the age of 24 and I've been having memos and breast ultrasounds ever since the age of 24 because of high risk breast cancer in my family.
Chandriya Singleton:I, I've even had an MRI breast.
Chandriya Singleton:So, you know, and I just hit my 40s.
Chandriya Singleton:So this is something that is near and dear to my heart.
Chandriya Singleton:And welcome, Marcia.
Marsha Dunn:Thank you.
Marsha Dunn:Thank you for having me.
Chandriya Singleton:So Marcia has over 25 years of experience in radiology, but she does not just do memo.
Chandriya Singleton:She's going to talk about that and tell us more about it.
Chandriya Singleton:So, Marcia, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what it is that you do?
Marsha Dunn:Hey.
Marsha Dunn:Well, thank you again for having me, Chandra.
Marsha Dunn:Yes, I am, let's just say, a radiologic technologist for life.
Marsha Dunn:But my specialty is in mammography.
Marsha Dunn:Over 25 plus years.
Marsha Dunn:I started out as we all do in radiology, meaning general X ray, for maybe about two, three years.
Marsha Dunn:And then my favorite modality is called special interventional.
Marsha Dunn:Well, I decided to start a family and I was considered high risk because I was having twins.
Marsha Dunn:And that pushed me into mammography, which was pretty much my bread and butter, if you don't mind me saying.
Marsha Dunn:I perform mammography for a good maybe 22, 23 years and I love it.
Marsha Dunn:I am all about women's health.
Marsha Dunn:I am the first stop when it comes to educating a woman about their breast.
Marsha Dunn:Well, when it comes to imaging, when patients come to us in the mammography room, they tell us their whole story.
Marsha Dunn:They won't share it with the doctor unless I nudge them a little bit.
Marsha Dunn:Share with the doctor.
Marsha Dunn:It's very important.
Marsha Dunn:But they come into the mammography room and they share, they cry.
Marsha Dunn:They really trust us in mammography.
Marsha Dunn:My fellow mammoths, we do a great job.
Marsha Dunn:It starts with us.
Marsha Dunn:It starts with proper imaging.
Marsha Dunn:I know many of you women hate the compression, but it's very important.
Marsha Dunn:I don't like it.
Marsha Dunn:Chandria don't like it, but like she said, it saved lives.
Marsha Dunn:We as mammographers save lives.
Marsha Dunn:And it continues on.
Marsha Dunn:It doesn't just stop.
Marsha Dunn:As for me as a mammographer, as a mammal technologist, ultrasound, mri, sometimes nuclear medicine, sometimes Connecticut, all of those modalities come together.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, that is so true.
Chandriya Singleton:Now, how long did it take you to get certified?
Chandriya Singleton:Because I think growing up, me personally, either, people in my family were teachers, nurses, and that's it.
Chandriya Singleton:I had one uncle that was the director of a radiology department.
Chandriya Singleton:That's the most I knew about radiology and respiratory.
Chandriya Singleton:I had an aunt, her and her husband, respiratory therapist.
Chandriya Singleton:So that's about all I knew about the radiology, about the healthcare field.
Chandriya Singleton:And I don't think I'm the only one.
Chandriya Singleton:Everyone just thinks doctors, right?
Chandriya Singleton:So how long does it take you to get certified?
Chandriya Singleton:And what are the.
Chandriya Singleton:What is the education requirements?
Marsha Dunn:So it doesn't take long.
Marsha Dunn:I was a novice.
Marsha Dunn:I started out learning accounting.
Marsha Dunn:Oh, mom and dad, I want to be an accountant.
Marsha Dunn:And I ended up going working at Winthrop University Hospital.
Marsha Dunn:And my uncle was selling radiology equipment.
Marsha Dunn:That's how I got my first introduction.
Marsha Dunn:And he was telling me about different positions and I said, oh, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do because I'm always somebody who wants to learn more.
Marsha Dunn:I got my first job at Winthrop University Hospital in Long island as a file room technologist, a file room tech.
Marsha Dunn:And they were back in the day.
Marsha Dunn:Chandra, remember the films?
Marsha Dunn:The black and white films?
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah.
Marsha Dunn:Surgeons and the doctors will come and look at these films and I'm like, what is with these black films that have bones?
Marsha Dunn:So I inquired.
Marsha Dunn:Well, my blessing was.
Marsha Dunn:Was there.
Marsha Dunn:And I didn't even know it.
Marsha Dunn:Winthrop University had a radiology program school and I applied and I got in six months to being hired.
Marsha Dunn:Anyway, it's a.
Marsha Dunn:You have to enter a general radiography program and you successfully go through the program for two years.
Marsha Dunn:And when you're finished with the program, you can continue on as a mammographer, CT Nuclear Medicine.
Marsha Dunn:The modality grows and continues on, or you can go into the actual general radiography, but it's a two year successful program.
Marsha Dunn:Once you graduate, you can practice that.
Marsha Dunn:I did, but I wanted to do something else.
Marsha Dunn:And any other modality takes about a year.
Marsha Dunn:You work for several hours to accumulate your experience.
Marsha Dunn:And then you take a registry, the ARRT registry.
Marsha Dunn:And that will give you the certification to be a registered radiological technologist with the acronym of rt.
Marsha Dunn:And then you'll have an R, which is radiography, M mammography, CT, CT, computer tomography, MRI and so forth.
Marsha Dunn:So it just takes maybe about two years for sure.
Marsha Dunn:And if you want to transfer in or move into another modality, another year upon your experience.
Marsha Dunn:So it's really up to your pace.
Marsha Dunn:I also want to say that I am a MTMI breast consultant.
Marsha Dunn:I'm very excited about that.
Marsha Dunn:I always wanted to work for this company and I was blessed to actually.
Marsha Dunn:I am a teacher educator.
Marsha Dunn:I love doing what I do and I wanted to do more, provide more filmography for women just to trust the unit, trust us techs, that we're doing the right thing.
Marsha Dunn:We're not here to hurt you.
Marsha Dunn:And I was offered to be a breast consultant for breast, for mtmi.
Marsha Dunn:So I'm very excited about that.
Marsha Dunn:I'm trying it.
Chandriya Singleton:That is because.
Chandriya Singleton:Do you know, I don't know if you know this, but when I was going for my CT registry, they didn't have CT and Mr.
Chandriya Singleton:Schools, so you had to learn on the job.
Chandriya Singleton:So it was my.
Chandriya Singleton:I was still in school when I learned ct.
Chandriya Singleton:You have two years of the program like you said.
Chandriya Singleton:And the first year I went on and got all of my clinicals that were supposed to be done in two years.
Chandriya Singleton:I did it in one year and that was my obstacle because I knew I did not want to push around portable machines with bodies.
Chandriya Singleton:My body could not take that.
Chandriya Singleton:I didn't want to go in the OR doing X rays.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Chandriya Singleton:I didn't want to do fluoro all day.
Chandriya Singleton:Nothing wrong with those things, but I just knew they were not long term for me.
Chandriya Singleton:So I buckled down that first year school and I knocked out all those exams.
Chandriya Singleton:And by the time the second year came, I was able to float through every modality and see which one I liked.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Chandriya Singleton:And I did that and I realized radiation therapy was what I liked.
Chandriya Singleton:But I didn't get in school for okay, so ct.
Chandriya Singleton:I had been working at night as a student tech helping out CT because they were so short staffed.
Chandriya Singleton:This is what CT was just like booming.
Chandriya Singleton:They were cranking out the stroke protocols.
Chandriya Singleton:You know, the hospital was learning more about strokes and the technology was speeding up so they needed more CT tech.
Chandriya Singleton:So I actually got a job As a student, CT and X Ray tech.
Chandriya Singleton:And that's how I went into ct.
Chandriya Singleton:Well, I still needed to get the exam to pass the registry.
Marsha Dunn:Right, right.
Chandriya Singleton:Okay.
Chandriya Singleton:So I passed X ray.
Chandriya Singleton:So I went to mtmi.
Chandriya Singleton:They were like the only school and they were ahead of their time on education, I believe.
Chandriya Singleton:And I passed the registry through them.
Chandriya Singleton:Yep.
Chandriya Singleton:I did the same with MRI with them.
Chandriya Singleton:And I did really well on everything they taught.
Chandriya Singleton:The physics part, I had to wind up going to Bill Faulkner's physics course for one day.
Marsha Dunn:Okay.
Chandriya Singleton:And that helped me on the physics side of it because that was a whole.
Chandriya Singleton:That was totally different from X ray.
Chandriya Singleton:So it had another part of my brain that needed to be educated.
Marsha Dunn:Right, right.
Chandriya Singleton:But mtmi, I took their mammoth national certification out of Vegas.
Chandriya Singleton:I love that company.
Chandriya Singleton:So for me to hear that you are one of their educators, that's awesome.
Marsha Dunn:Full circle.
Marsha Dunn:Yeah.
Marsha Dunn:I did my.
Marsha Dunn:My MT and my CT education is there as well.
Marsha Dunn:But I decided I didn't want to do ct.
Marsha Dunn:But I just got my, my training pretty much there and I did my mtm.
Marsha Dunn:I did my mammography training there and I did my 40 hours initial and there it is.
Marsha Dunn:I now in full circle and becoming one of the.
Marsha Dunn:I am one of the consultants for digital breast homo synthesis and going hopefully my future will grow into it becoming one of their 40 hour initial class.
Chandriya Singleton:Congratulations.
Chandriya Singleton:Okay, we are going to pump that up.
Chandriya Singleton:That is going to happen.
Chandriya Singleton:Marsha is amazing.
Chandriya Singleton:She has experience.
Chandriya Singleton:Did you face any obstacles?
Chandriya Singleton:Because I want young people.
Chandriya Singleton:I think both of us were introduced to radiology by our uncles.
Chandriya Singleton:That's so we have so much in common.
Marsha Dunn:Is that coincidence?
Chandriya Singleton:And we didn't even know this y'all as long as we noticed yet that we didn't know any of this stuff.
Chandriya Singleton:But you know, I tell you, it's so interesting how things are exposed to you.
Chandriya Singleton:But there are obstacles because I went to a school where, you know, in the field, like many other fields, it is the majority of people are not sometimes people of color.
Chandriya Singleton:I didn't know anything about it.
Chandriya Singleton:I didn't know many people that looked like me that did it.
Marsha Dunn:Right, right.
Chandriya Singleton:So, you know, it's important for me to tell young people because I was one of those people, I love school, but I didn't want to go to school forever.
Chandriya Singleton:I was not interested in going to school forever.
Chandriya Singleton: I didn't want to do: Chandriya Singleton:I didn't want to do eight.
Marsha Dunn:I'm the opposite.
Chandriya Singleton:Oh, see, okay.
Chandriya Singleton:So I was like.
Chandriya Singleton:But I knew I wanted to make a certain amount of money because I like traveling.
Marsha Dunn:I like.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Chandriya Singleton:So I Didn't know anyone but nurses.
Chandriya Singleton:And I knew I didn't want to do that because I didn't want to be a bedside nurse.
Chandriya Singleton:Now, if I would have known that they had radiology nurses, you know, and cardiac, cardiac nurses, hey, I might have went into nursing.
Chandriya Singleton:And that's why I believe it's all about educating people about fields and options.
Chandriya Singleton:So please educate us.
Chandriya Singleton:What obstacles did you face?
Chandriya Singleton:How did you overcome them?
Marsha Dunn:You know, to be honest, taking a look back when I first started again, the.
Marsha Dunn:The predominant culture was, wasn't.
Marsha Dunn:I wasn't.
Marsha Dunn:I may have been the only African American in my class, but for some reason that didn't bother me.
Marsha Dunn:I felt like if I want something, I'm going to do it.
Marsha Dunn:And I've always, always had that personality.
Marsha Dunn:My parents instilled that in me.
Marsha Dunn:So I don't really.
Marsha Dunn:I didn't really come across any obstacles in pursuing what I wanted.
Marsha Dunn:What I faced was more challenges and patience when they see me enter the room.
Marsha Dunn:I didn't have any challenges with my education because I knew what I wanted and no one's going to stop me.
Marsha Dunn:I had tremendous support.
Marsha Dunn:So nothing there.
Marsha Dunn:I don't believe I was hindered or I was cheated or something was taken away from me because if it did, I maybe didn't see it because I found a way and I'm still excelling.
Marsha Dunn:So I don't think anything in educational, that aspect was taken away from me.
Marsha Dunn:But what I do endure daily to this every day are my patients when they see me, oh, you're doing my mammogram today.
Marsha Dunn:Yeah.
Marsha Dunn:Because someone of my stature, my color, may have help them change their uniform, change their clothing into the.
Marsha Dunn:To the gown, and they may think that's the same person.
Marsha Dunn:As I walk in and I introduce myself, he's like, oh, I didn't know you do mammograms now.
Marsha Dunn:I was like, oh, I'm not that person.
Marsha Dunn:But I will be doing a mammogram today.
Marsha Dunn:So, you know, I try to make light of it, but I'm not ignorant to it, you know, and it is what it is.
Marsha Dunn:It's our culture.
Marsha Dunn:We just have to embrace it in a professional way, you know, and sometimes we just have to maybe come down to their level just a little bit.
Marsha Dunn:But other than that, other than that, my message is, you make the best of what you have.
Marsha Dunn:Don't let that circumstance take you down.
Marsha Dunn:And if you want to excel, you're going to find a way to do it.
Marsha Dunn:I am stickler for that.
Marsha Dunn:I instill that in my kids, My kids are.
Marsha Dunn:I'm so proud.
Marsha Dunn:Chandria.
Marsha Dunn:Know my children from baby babies.
Marsha Dunn:And I instill that to my children.
Marsha Dunn:I said, you.
Marsha Dunn:You know what you need to do.
Marsha Dunn:You're inspired to it, and you go all the way and you have the support for it.
Marsha Dunn:So nothing should stop you unless you're ready.
Marsha Dunn:Nothing should stop you.
Marsha Dunn:Go for what you want to do 100%.
Chandriya Singleton:I totally agree.
Chandriya Singleton:I.
Chandriya Singleton:I have to say, I haven't really had any obstacles.
Chandriya Singleton:You know, things were placed in my way to try to stumble me or slow me down from the progress.
Chandriya Singleton:But that's life.
Chandriya Singleton:Like you said.
Chandriya Singleton:That's life.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Chandriya Singleton:And.
Chandriya Singleton:But when you know what you want and you know what's in front of you, and I find that when I saw the possibilities of what radiology could do me, I can work three days a week.
Chandriya Singleton:I can do travel work I've been traveling, I can do.
Chandriya Singleton:You know, there are so many things you just don't even have to scan.
Chandriya Singleton:You can go into education, you could go into applications where people buy machines, and you go teach the technologist because you have experience.
Chandriya Singleton:You know, you can own your own staffing agency.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Chandriya Singleton:You can own your own MRI center.
Chandriya Singleton:You can own your own MRI scanner and lease it out to hospital.
Chandriya Singleton:I mean, there are so many possibilities.
Marsha Dunn:And the possibilities are there, and it's up to you to take it.
Marsha Dunn:I was a clinical specialist for Siemens, you know, for two and a half years.
Marsha Dunn:Yeah.
Marsha Dunn:So again, I had one manager tell me, oh, the reason why I didn't get a job is because I didn't stay at a job for the long.
Marsha Dunn:And I said, well, if you stay at a job for long, sometimes you miss the opportunity of new innovations, new things coming in, because you're still at one place.
Marsha Dunn:And I said, I don't.
Marsha Dunn:I don't feel that that's accurate.
Marsha Dunn:Now, if I didn't travel, if I didn't experience with different modalities, different realms of radiology, I don't think I would be as educated and comfortable in what I'm doing now.
Marsha Dunn:So, you know, you don't let anyone take away what you want.
Marsha Dunn:You may have to find, like you said, an obstacle, find another route.
Marsha Dunn:But don't ever let someone take your dream and your.
Marsha Dunn:Your path.
Marsha Dunn:Don't let them change your way.
Chandriya Singleton:And my thing is always get certified in the modality, whether you feel like you will use it or not.
Chandriya Singleton:I never had any intention of doing mammography, but I knew the opportunity presented itself, so I took it and I knew MTMI was a great company to learn from, and it was amazing, great experience.
Chandriya Singleton:It actually benefited me in MRI breast.
Chandriya Singleton:When I would do the MRI scans for the breast.
Marsha Dunn:Yes, ma'am.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, it totally upped my skills.
Chandriya Singleton:I would say I was kind of lost when I used to do the breast MRIs.
Chandriya Singleton:But once I took that course with MTMI on mammography, I totally understood what I needed to do and give the best care to my patients.
Chandriya Singleton:Even though I wasn't doing mammography, I was using mri.
Chandriya Singleton:So you just never know.
Chandriya Singleton:It's always good to continue to learn, to be a student, take in the education.
Chandriya Singleton:It will benefit you later in life.
Chandriya Singleton:So tell us, where do you see MEMO advancing in the next few years?
Chandriya Singleton:Because it's come a long way, man.
Marsha Dunn:It's come a long way.
Marsha Dunn:Right now we're experiencing and utilizing this great phenomenon called 3D.
Marsha Dunn:3D tomosynthesis.
Marsha Dunn:And you know, I know Hologic and Siemens, I work with their products, and it's awesome.
Marsha Dunn:I mean, the imaging has come so far from film dipping a plastic in chemicals and watching that chemical change into an image of a breast.
Marsha Dunn:And now I can sit at my monitor and the image pops up.
Marsha Dunn:It's just amazing.
Marsha Dunn:And then we have.
Marsha Dunn:I don't know if your.
Marsha Dunn:Your audience know anything about tomo or tomography, how you take imaging of a breast, 1 millimeter cut, and literally they can see the breast form from skin on the top of the breast through the nipple, all the way through the vest to the bottom of the patient or the top of the patient's stomach.
Marsha Dunn:I mean, it's amazing how the breast can be formed.
Marsha Dunn:And a lot of detection, a lot of diagnosis can, can come through from the tomography.
Marsha Dunn:So, yeah, I see it building.
Marsha Dunn:I see.
Marsha Dunn:I don't know.
Marsha Dunn:I've heard a talk about 4D.
Marsha Dunn:I don't know how accurate that information is, but 3D right now is the way to go.
Marsha Dunn:Patients, I know you hear about.
Marsha Dunn:Oh, it's.
Marsha Dunn:I heard about the 3D.
Marsha Dunn:It's not as uncomfortable.
Marsha Dunn:Pressure is pressure.
Chandriya Singleton:Right.
Marsha Dunn:I know these companies are trying to make it better, but again, it's up to the patient.
Marsha Dunn:It's up to the technologist to make sure that patient understands.
Marsha Dunn:I say communicate with them, talk to talk them through the process.
Marsha Dunn:It helps relieve some of that discomfort because some of it is psychological too.
Chandriya Singleton:Right.
Marsha Dunn:But again, a lot of these companies are really trying to make comfort for these patients.
Marsha Dunn:The common joke, a man made this.
Marsha Dunn:Well, some women intervention came in as well.
Marsha Dunn:But again, the Reason why we compress is we want to see what's in that breast.
Marsha Dunn:And kind of think of it as when you're compressing and you can't get anymore, whatever's in there, it's going to say, okay, I give up.
Marsha Dunn:I'm right here.
Marsha Dunn:Here is my issue, you know, so just like fill a balloon and bring it down and you put a rock in there.
Marsha Dunn:You'll feel that rock after a while, you know, so it is uncomfortable.
Marsha Dunn:But I'm an advocate of every woman.
Marsha Dunn:Even at 30, if you feel something younger than that, it can start off with an ultrasound.
Chandriya Singleton:Okay?
Marsha Dunn:So don't ever be afraid of doing breast self exams.
Marsha Dunn:Don't ever be afraid of your breasts.
Marsha Dunn:Know your breasts at a very young age and it can go from there.
Chandriya Singleton:So.
Chandriya Singleton:So that's what I was going to say.
Marsha Dunn:Pornography is on the rise, definitely.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, that's what I was going to say, Marcia.
Chandriya Singleton:You know, I think I talked to a lot of women.
Chandriya Singleton:They've never done breast exams at home.
Chandriya Singleton:They just put their bra on and they go, but it's like, you should be looking at your.
Chandriya Singleton:You should know your breasts just like, you know, before you put your makeup on.
Chandriya Singleton:I know people that can contour their face at five minutes.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Chandriya Singleton:They know their face like the back of their hand.
Chandriya Singleton:But when it comes to our breast as women, we don't know when one side is loopy, one side is not.
Chandriya Singleton:Well, one side, exactly.
Chandriya Singleton:You know, I personally don't go get mammals if, you know, around a time where my breasts are more tender, I'm just not going to do that to myself.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Marsha Dunn:But sometimes you don't know because when you have to schedule your mammogram, it's maybe six months or a year, but then you never know.
Marsha Dunn:Your body may change and then your cycles here, you can always cancel or reschedule.
Marsha Dunn:But sometimes you just don't know.
Marsha Dunn:I'm like, oh, let me just get through it.
Marsha Dunn:But again, it also comes down to the technologist.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah.
Marsha Dunn:Proper education, proper patient care.
Marsha Dunn:Your mammogram should not be as.
Marsha Dunn:Shouldn't be as terrifying where you should never come back.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, my two that I've had, they did not hurt at all.
Chandriya Singleton:They weren't comfortable.
Chandriya Singleton:Like, I could just go to sleep, but it wasn't bad.
Chandriya Singleton:And I'll say, you know, I was more fearful of, you know, the radiation to the breast tissue.
Chandriya Singleton:But talking to trusted people like yourself and another young lady that, you know, knows her mammography, I really felt more comfortable about getting the radiation to Such a susceptible area, you know, on a routine basis, a yearly basis.
Chandriya Singleton:So, you know, I appreciate people stopping and pausing and explaining to me, not making me feel like, oh, you should know better as a technologist, you know, radiation.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, but I'm still human.
Chandriya Singleton:And I, you know, I look at all the women in my family who have died from breast cancer before technology got.
Chandriya Singleton:And the ones who died after getting treatment, you know, because, not of the cancer, but because they got, you know, their bodies just got beat down over the years of the treatment.
Chandriya Singleton:So, you know that all those things are fearful.
Chandriya Singleton:If I feel that way, I know other people do.
Chandriya Singleton:Just because I'm in a field doesn't mean that my fears are alleviated.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Marsha Dunn:And one of the concerns is radiation.
Marsha Dunn:A lot of women, especially younger women, who are trying to have children or are of that stage in their life where, you know, I'm just very concerned of how much exposure and I share with them the other modalities that they have had.
Marsha Dunn:And I've asked them, I said, well, have you had a chest X ray?
Marsha Dunn:Have you had a ct?
Marsha Dunn:And then they'll tell me, yes.
Marsha Dunn:And I said, well, mammography is one of the lowest dose of radiation that you can get.
Marsha Dunn:And again, you're only here once a year.
Marsha Dunn:Sometimes you may have a chest X ray twice a year, Connecticut.
Marsha Dunn:There's so much radiation to the body at one time, so they kind of get it.
Marsha Dunn:And then I say, if you garden or you go to the, to the bus stop, you're getting a lot of radiation.
Marsha Dunn:More radiation than you're thinking.
Marsha Dunn:Yeah, so.
Chandriya Singleton:Or fly.
Chandriya Singleton:I mean, you know, hey, flight from.
Marsha Dunn:Here to la, it's a lot.
Marsha Dunn:So I try to put it in layman's terms or kind of in a perspective that they can get it.
Marsha Dunn:And they're like, oh, makes sense now that they're ready to go get in the memo machine and get compressed.
Marsha Dunn:But they understand it better.
Chandriya Singleton:You guys, this is why she's been doing this so long.
Chandriya Singleton:And she's an educator for one of the top schools for radiology modalities.
Chandriya Singleton:So to end it off, Marsha, what advice would you give women, young men, who want to look into the medical field, but maybe not want to go for long periods of time or be a nurse or, you know, something else?
Chandriya Singleton:How would you explain to them about the radiology field?
Marsha Dunn:Radiology is a great stepping stone and it could be a career path as well.
Marsha Dunn:It's a two year program versus a four year program if you want to become a medical doctor.
Marsha Dunn:But we're really trying to.
Marsha Dunn:Well, in the past, I was trying to get into the, into my high school and get radiology exposure where students don't have to just do nursing or doctor or become a lawyer.
Marsha Dunn:There's so much more.
Marsha Dunn:But now with the millennials and now younger generations, they're seeing that.
Marsha Dunn:So it's just about educating.
Marsha Dunn:It's about getting into the schools, to these counselors, to let them know that only there's more interest than doctors and nurses and lawyers when it comes to the medical field.
Marsha Dunn:You know, radiology is one.
Marsha Dunn:It's a two year program.
Marsha Dunn:If you're really not sure or you are sure, it's a great stepping stone and it's a pathway to something greater, like Chandraya and I are doing, you know, and I know we're growing to be more than what we are now.
Marsha Dunn:So I just tell my kids if they are interested, but they also want to be in the medical field, but on a different aspect.
Marsha Dunn:One is going to be a dentist and one be a physical therapist.
Marsha Dunn:So I think that exposure of my life, we have tons of nurses, tons of doctors in our family.
Marsha Dunn:The exposure is what they need.
Marsha Dunn:Exposure is key.
Chandriya Singleton:And options.
Chandriya Singleton:I just believe everybody should have options of what they want to do.
Chandriya Singleton:It's not just one path in a medical field.
Chandriya Singleton:If you don't do that path, you're nobody.
Chandriya Singleton:You ignore.
Chandriya Singleton:Everybody plays a role and everybody's job is important to the patient and patients should know who's.
Chandriya Singleton:Because most people think you're a nurse.
Chandriya Singleton:I get that all the time.
Chandriya Singleton:I'm like, no, I'm not a nurse.
Marsha Dunn:And I'm not a technician.
Marsha Dunn:I'm a technologist.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, that's a whole nother topic.
Chandriya Singleton:Yeah, we have to talk about that another time.
Chandriya Singleton:I think I'm going to do a panel because I did a TikTok on that and that thing went crazy.
Chandriya Singleton:So, I mean, it is so funny to me.
Chandriya Singleton:But yeah, I'm going to do a panel.
Chandriya Singleton:That's going to be a nice panel discussion.
Marsha Dunn:Let me put me on that panel.
Chandriya Singleton:You definitely are on that panel.
Chandriya Singleton:Well, this has been such a good conversation and I would love for you to touch on just where are you working now?
Chandriya Singleton:You're doing something that is a hot topic today.
Marsha Dunn:Yes, yes.
Marsha Dunn:I have been in mammography for so long and I've been in the traditional hospital setting, but I left that behind because I am a empty nester and I decided to jump into that traveling world.
Marsha Dunn:It's not only travel nursing, we have traveling medical imaging.
Marsha Dunn:So I am a travel mammoth right now, and I am an assignment in New York and I love it.
Marsha Dunn:My base is in Atlanta.
Marsha Dunn:I'm not leaving Atlanta put for all my peoples out there.
Marsha Dunn:But I have the opportunity to enjoy another facility.
Marsha Dunn:And I find it very interesting because I like to learn, and I just learn different ways.
Marsha Dunn:I know mammography, so I don't need to be taught that.
Marsha Dunn:But I learn the different units that they maybe have different.
Marsha Dunn:They have on their prom on their property.
Marsha Dunn:And I love the technologists.
Marsha Dunn:I love different management.
Marsha Dunn:So I'm just learning.
Marsha Dunn:And I'm enjoying it.
Marsha Dunn:I'm enjoying it.
Marsha Dunn:And the pay is absolutely beautiful.
Marsha Dunn:I was gonna say on a higher scale.
Chandriya Singleton:You deserve it.
Chandriya Singleton:You deserve it.
Marsha Dunn:Yes.
Marsha Dunn:Look into it, you know, before you make that decision, because there are some changes.
Marsha Dunn:Again, organizations give you more protection with insurance and security and that nature.
Marsha Dunn:But, you know, don't let only be your hindrance.
Marsha Dunn:You, you're making the money so you can make a decision for yourself.
Marsha Dunn:You're, you know, you can work for yourself when it comes to that.
Chandriya Singleton:So, yeah, that's a whole nother girl.
Chandriya Singleton:That's a whole nother panel topic.
Chandriya Singleton:Because I just had this conversation with a young lady.
Chandriya Singleton:I trained her in MRI and we became friends through that.
Chandriya Singleton:And she's killing herself at a hospital.
Chandriya Singleton:And they gave this is.
Chandriya Singleton:She was like.
Chandriya Singleton:They gave me the lead position.
Chandriya Singleton:They gave you a lot of headache.
Chandriya Singleton:That's what they gave you.
Chandriya Singleton:And she was.
Chandriya Singleton:But she's like, well.
Chandriya Singleton:I said, well, if you take this travel job.
Chandriya Singleton:I had a travel job that I wanted to offer her for six months, she would have made what more than what she would have made in a year at that one job, you know, six months.
Chandriya Singleton:Say it without the headache and working crazy hours and working every day of the week.
Chandriya Singleton:And she could not bring her mind to understand.
Chandriya Singleton:She was like, well, who's going to give me insurance?
Chandriya Singleton:You get your own insurance.
Marsha Dunn:You're making the money.
Marsha Dunn:Get your own insurance and you get.
Chandriya Singleton:To write off all your insurance that you paying right now.
Chandriya Singleton:They take it 2, 300 out of your check and you can't write none of it off.
Marsha Dunn:Nothing at all.
Marsha Dunn:Nothing.
Chandriya Singleton:I mean, that's a whole nother conversation.
Marsha Dunn:So many benefits.
Marsha Dunn:So many benefits.
Marsha Dunn:And it took me a while because I was hesitant.
Marsha Dunn:I was very hesitant.
Marsha Dunn:But my friend, I'm have to call her out.
Marsha Dunn:Janet Richardson.
Marsha Dunn:Janet Richardson.
Marsha Dunn:Thank you, sister.
Marsha Dunn:I appreciate it.
Chandriya Singleton:But we need to have Jan on here.
Marsha Dunn:She's a fellow mammographer, so she has.
Chandriya Singleton:Because so many People, I think we shortchange ourselves, but.
Chandriya Singleton:Oh, this is just a whole nother conversation.
Chandriya Singleton:But I think we are so talented and we have so many years under our sleeve and so much experience.
Chandriya Singleton:When I go out and tell people, I know every MRI machine, I have scanned on every MRI machine, even ones that don't exist anymore.
Chandriya Singleton:0.25.
Chandriya Singleton:If you know the modality, you know the modality, it doesn't matter.
Chandriya Singleton:And I tell people that all the time.
Chandriya Singleton:I don't care what machine you put in front of somebody that knows what they're doing.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Chandriya Singleton:They will figure it out.
Chandriya Singleton:I don't travel jobs where I was told it was one scanner and I walk in, it's a whole nother scanner, and I'm.
Marsha Dunn:It's funny, I know you're about to close off, but this current position, I'm at NYU and they're training me.
Marsha Dunn:And mind you, I think I have more experience than a lot of the girls there.
Marsha Dunn:So they're showing me, and I said, I'm not new to mammography, I promise you.
Marsha Dunn:I know it.
Marsha Dunn:And then they step back and just like, oh, now I'm showing them how to position and doing this.
Marsha Dunn:I said, see, I'm just learning your NYU way.
Marsha Dunn:I'm not new to memo, so.
Chandriya Singleton:Right.
Marsha Dunn:Once you know the machine, you know what you're doing.
Chandriya Singleton:There's no need to be fearful about traveling if you know what you're doing.
Chandriya Singleton:Because we are not button pushers.
Chandriya Singleton:We understand.
Chandriya Singleton:You could put.
Chandriya Singleton:I think you have to be able to think beyond the book.
Marsha Dunn:Out of the box.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Marsha Dunn:Yes.
Chandriya Singleton:And out of the box to be able.
Marsha Dunn:We.
Chandriya Singleton:With our experience, we have seen so much.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Chandriya Singleton:That I can figure out how to do it on a.
Chandriya Singleton:I've scanned on some of the crappiest machines and still come out with some beautiful images.
Marsha Dunn:That's right.
Chandriya Singleton:And it's a matter.
Marsha Dunn:Oh, yeah.
Marsha Dunn:I tell you, radiology radiologists really look up at.
Marsha Dunn:Look to us for a lot of assistings they respect.
Chandriya Singleton:Ones that know what they're doing, they're doing.
Chandriya Singleton:I had a doctor the other day, he ordered something.
Chandriya Singleton:I said, well, that's kind of, you know, we don't do that anymore with the new type of.
Chandriya Singleton:We have.
Chandriya Singleton:And he was like, oh, really?
Chandriya Singleton:Well, just do whatever you think is best.
Marsha Dunn:Do what you think is best for the patient.
Marsha Dunn:Okay, thanks.
Chandriya Singleton:I'm like, okay.
Chandriya Singleton:I just wanted to let you know we don't do that anymore.
Chandriya Singleton:He's like, well, I just need it in corona.
Chandriya Singleton:Okay, no problem.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Chandriya Singleton:You speak to Me, this is why you do it in that kind of corona.
Chandriya Singleton:But if you're not doing that, he.
Marsha Dunn:Was like, oh, I didn't.
Chandriya Singleton:And doctors respect that you understand and know what you're doing, and if you approach them in the right way, that, hey, if you wanted me to do it like this, I will.
Chandriya Singleton:But let me tell you, an easier way for the patient and a better way for you to get what you need.
Marsha Dunn:Exactly.
Marsha Dunn:Yeah.
Chandriya Singleton:Thank you.
Marsha Dunn:So did I.
Marsha Dunn:Yeah.
Chandriya Singleton:We're gonna do this again.
Chandriya Singleton:And you enjoy your travel assignment and continue to prosper.
Chandriya Singleton:And we're going to talk about some more things so we can continue to climb together.
Marsha Dunn:I look forward to it.
Marsha Dunn:Thank you for having me.
Marsha Dunn:I really appreciate it.
Marsha Dunn:This was so much fun, you guys.
Chandriya Singleton:And Marcia, tell everybody.
Chandriya Singleton:I know we're gonna put it at the bottom of the screen, but tell everybody what social media platforms they can find you on.
Chandriya Singleton:If you have any radiology groups that you're doing so they can learn more about mammography.
Marsha Dunn:I'm on LinkedIn.
Marsha Dunn:Marsha M.
Marsha Dunn:Dunn.
Marsha Dunn:I have Instagram.
Marsha Dunn:I am also a travel agent, so traveling done.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Marsha Dunn:I also am on Facebook.
Marsha Dunn:I don't.
Marsha Dunn:I have a Facebook travel page.
Marsha Dunn:And I'm going to create a group for mammography done.
Marsha Dunn:Right.
Marsha Dunn:To have to help information, proper information to go out to our women.
Marsha Dunn:There's so many women that wants to talk about their experience, so I'm just trying to get that foundation built so we can all come back and talk and share our experiences.
Marsha Dunn:Mammographers, ultrasound, and patient MRI, CT.
Marsha Dunn:We can all come together.
Marsha Dunn:Chandria may just be on my page one day.
Marsha Dunn:Who knows?
Chandriya Singleton:Hey, I look forward to it.
Chandriya Singleton:Thank you.
Chandriya Singleton:You guys go follow Marsha.
Chandriya Singleton:Learn more about mammography.
Chandriya Singleton:She knows what she's doing and she's amazing at sharing all of her valuable information.
Chandriya Singleton:So let's continue to support one another and learn more about this amazing field of study, radiology.
Chandriya Singleton:Thank you for subscribing and following.
Chandriya Singleton:Let's chit chat, wellness and travel.
Chandriya Singleton:This is our radiology segment, and be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and have a great day, everyone.
Marsha Dunn:Take care.
Marsha Dunn:Bye.
