What’s Broken? My Left Boob?
A letter.
I opened a letter last Friday from the radiology department at our local hospital which had the selection (B) checked.
It read: YOUR MAMMOGRAM NEEDS FURTHER EVALUATION.
What?
That must mean my annual breast love-hug last week was abnormal.
HOLY CR@P.
No. Honestly, it was a more quiet, deeply quiet worry.
My friend who is a mammographer assured me that 80 percent of the time it’s nothing.
That is what I told myself.
I also told myself, it certainly could be something.
So for the next few days I volunteered at a primary school event, went to see my son’s college football game, swam at pool and chatted with friends, finished second in my age group in a 5K, went to church . . .
All the while, constantly feeling up my left breast. When not literally, over and over in my mind.
I didn’t feel anything.
But reading all the blogs this last month has showed me that you don’t always feel something — for something to be there.
I went this Tuesday for the follow-up. They used a smaller plate on the area of concern and squish the h@ll out of my breast.
“Does that hurt? Is that too much?” the technician asked.
“It’s fine, keep going,” I replied.
Squish it flat as a page out of a spider’s diary if gets you the best picture.
A few minutes later she came back with the news that with this concentrated image, the radiologist said that the spot in question had disappeared.
Relieved. Thankful. I was all this.
And doubting. Doubt crept in.
What if they missed something? What if this picture was wrong?
So right now, I’m trying to relax with a very sore left breast. Most thankful that it appears to be nothing.
The takeaway for me.
This is serious stuff. Get your mammograms — those of us in the 40 and older club.
We are all so busy. We can miss naps, exercise or even a party when we are too tired to head out the door.
Don’t miss this.
That’s all. And yes, I will be constantly massaging up both breasts in the shower till my next exam.
Linking up with MamaKat with the prompt: 1.) What’s broken?
