So the appointment took all of maybe three or four minutes. The x-ray technician was so nice and professional, and made me feel at home as I could with my...self...hanging out there. The squishing really wasn't bad at all. Did it hurt? Well, not really. It was just a pulling, tugging kind of thing...very uncomfortable though. But that part lasted like five seconds with each picture-four in all. So what's 20 seconds, even if it was painful? I left and went to 7-11 and rewarded myself with a bag of Doritos (the 99cent variety), and a BIG, THICK Reeses...yum! I told my husband that it seemed like someone should have a party for me or something, but when I got home there weren't any streamers hanging. Dang! Well, at least I tried.
But here's the bad news- I got a call from the hospital just now and they saw something on my left side. They want to do an additional mammogram with a magnifyer and then an ultrasound. Before the appointment, my doc. said not to worry about it if I got called back in as it is common with first mammograms. And when I left the mammogram, they gave me a little pamphlet that said the same thing and gave statistics on how rare it would be to actually have breast cancer.
My first thought when I got the phone call was, "Do you know my history of beating statistics like that?" I was in the "less than five percent" of people who don't heal from back surgery and require another. But I'm trying to let reason win out here. The gals in my family are "lumpy", so the mammogramologists say. This is probably nothing, right?
Why do I want to cry and why won't I let myself? I'm sure everything is fine. So much for writing about writing on this blog, huh?
6 comments:
I'm sure I would be scared, too. The waiting is so cruel. Please keep us updated.
The worst thing about a mammogram is the weird convoluted you have to stand in... and then hold your breath for like 20 minutes while doing it!
Whatever they found is probably nothing. I had a fibroadenoma a few years ago, which is just one of the kinds of benign lumps it could be. Benign cysts and adenomas are far more common than cancer!
Thanks Bunny-Actually, cysts run in my family. My mom had them and my sister too. My appointment was set for the 17th so obviously it's not an emergency. They never told me to hold my breath. I'm tellin' you, this gal was good. It was a bit funny though, she treated "it" like a slab of meat.
After I read your comment Serena, I was thinking- the reason I had the mammo. was because of someone who has cancer. What if each of us influences just one person and that keeps going until ALL women have been checked. And WHAT IF...someone caught a tumor early and was saved. How awesome would that be? ~Karen
Just read in the newspaper how doctors are a little worried about the increasing number of women who have not been getting their regular mammos, probably out of fear. Personally, I don't understand as I am thrilled to get a simple medical test done that will help prolong my life. Rather get a mammo than see the dentist! My best to you, Karen - think positive. Wish your mammo place gave out carnations as mine does.
Really Linda? Carnations? That is so cool. Mine gave out deodorant...haha. That's because you can't wear deodorant for the test, of course. But still- it's a present, right? I'll take what I can get. Thanks for the comment. ~Karen
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