get a mammogram

I’ve had several mammograms, and several “lumpectomies,” one procedure that was both painful and a tad humiliating. Nothing like hanging your boobies down through little holes in a table whilst a crew of peeps plays pin the tail on the donkey with them! w00t! How do I get to have all the fun, yo?

But for this particular entry-I found a lump that my OB-GYN couldn’t-I had to put my finger on it for her. I got the MG, went to the boob specialist (the same one who had fun and games courtesy of my boob) and she told me what I already knew, just more cystitis, get another MG in six months, etc. Well, haven’t gone back to get it, but I can feel that the lump is now rather larger than it was. I get lipomas (fatty tumors) all the time-even in my shoulder-so I’m not spectacularly worried about it, but I guess I need to get it done, along with the blood work my OB-GYN ordered nearly a year ago.

...but none of these places are open outside of the normal work day. My next check-up is in four months. If I don’t do it by then, my doctor will yell at me (and I will have deserved it!).

OK, I didn’t exactly get a mammogram. I got an ultrasound and then a painful, disgusting needle thing (in both breasts as it turned out!) I’m good! ANNND my Harvard Med School specialist guy didn’t believe that cutting back on coffee was particularly guaranteed to help against benign cysts, contrary to what I had heard. I am sore and relieved.

I just saw him. He’s worried about the way this feels, so instead of having me get the mammogram on Friday, he called his colleague who’s a specialist to get me in later today for an ultrasound.

I guess if it’s a benign cyst (which is what I expect it to be), they may stick a needle in my breast to aspirate it, which I’m sure will be every bit as delightful as it sounds, and they’ll probably tell me to lay off the coffee. If it’s cancerous, well, maybe then I still get to drink a lot of coffee? :)

Here I was bitching about having to see him first, and now I’m really glad I did. I love my doc…he’s serious and ultra-efficient. You can always get him on the phone within a couple of hours of calling his office. When I had a horrible ear infection a couple of years ago, he called me from home to tell me to go to the ER & got a friend of his (another specialist) to meet me there. & then he called me over the weekend to make sure the pain was better. I don’t think there are too many dr.s like him.

I have to first see my regular doc apparently, so I’ll do that tomorrow. Good Lord what a hassle.

I need to see the dr as I found a breast lump that has me worried. I have waited to see if it went away with my cycle…twice. But no.

I am in my late 20’s, so I am not HORRIBLY concerned, but I can’t seem to help the little monster thoughts of “cancer” that sneak into my head, either.

I guess I’ll be setting up that appt when I get home next week.

I actually ended up with a minor abnormality and needed to have a needle biopsy. It was kind of awful, but part of me feels guilty complaining since everything was normal and I am fine. Mostly I was scared and uncomfortable…the staff were skillful and the woman who prepped me and bandaged me afterwards could be doing international diplomacy, she was that warm and loving in a silent, formal way.

Two women close to me have had mastectomies, and although neither is related by blood I feel like one of the pack of zebras running away from the lion. Is he gone? Is he gone? I don’t know, let’s keep running.

The other day (it’s been about 6 months now) I noticed that the biopsy scars are still visible. I guess I’m supposed to keep going for those darn mammograms, even if MRI is supposedly a lot better now. I’ll do it, I want to stay around.

Went, did the appointment and it turns out day before Thanksgiving is quite the popular day for said appointment.

Ah, well, I’m good for now – not expecting anything in the test results since this is my “being a responsible grownup” test. So, now to wait 5 years until the next one (knock on wood and whatnot).

:)

And I dread getting a mammogram because I’ve heard it hurts and I’ve heard bad things about how the harshness of mammograms can actually break pieces off of a mass and cause the matastasizing of cancer if it is there….

But, I’ve been ignoring this weird lump for a few weeks and the last few days it’s gotten harder to ignore. So, I guess I have to try to figure out where you get one of these exams. I guess that’s something I’ll have to do this week, because… better safe than sorry.

Extra special – Day before Thanksgiving treat.

Well, I can’t forget it now!