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?
SO glad you are ok!!! This is an important post. I am an advocate for cervical screenings for all women too. Nothing changes you more than having a test come back concerning or one step further; hearing that C word.
(((hugs))) I was so relieved at the end of this post to find you are just fine.
Thanks Collette. You are so right. We as women need to make sure we do get all the annual screening done. There are organizations that provide ways to do so even with no insurance.
“All the while, constantly feeling up my left breast” Sounds like a job for John. 🙂
You would think so wouldn’t you Ken? But he didn’t want me to talk about it. I didn’t either.
Very glad you are okay. This has happened to me after almost every mammogram I have ever had. “Further evaluation”. One doctor once even told me that the spot he had found on my breast could be breast cancer. How could he say such a thing without further examination? I put my life on hold and stopped looking for a job until I could see the breast specialist and figure this thing out. It turned out to be an old, dark cyst.
I am not trying to belittle your experience. I just wish there was another way to check women for breast cancer other than frightening to death. No wonder women don’t want to get mammograms.
This is always a scare, “please come in to discuss results”. Glad it was ok, Visiting from MamaKats.
I agree Emily. Women have told me the same thing — they have gotten called back often. It sounds non-threatening till it’s you, right? I have a friend who was having a follow-up MRI (not associated with our local hospital) and the X-ray person asked her directly if she had ever had breast cancer before — which not surprisingly freaked her out.
Oh, that is scary. I just got shivers (maybe because I keep putting of my baseline mammo?) Glad to read all is well.
I’m so glad for your result. I hate that small plate. I always feel lime when they squish the, they’ll stay that way and not bounce back. Important to remember these checks!
Yikes! I turn 40 this April, and all I can think about is having my first mammogram. Breast cancer is not in my family, but has touched our lives many times through friends. I’m so glad things turned out ok for you!
Keep up those self-breast exams! I do…my left boob is broken. 🙁 I’m a breast cancer survivor of 16 years.
Experts are now saying that self-exams in the shower aren’t the best place to do one. I have some resources on my blog about doing a self-exam, if you are interested in learning more.
Breast Self Exam: Don’t Put It Off!
Thanks a lot. I would love to learn more, Ginny. Anything to make me feel a bit more in control of the situation. And I know of so many example like yours that turn out better than great. That is the encouraging news.
Message received. Mammogram when I’m 40+. Consider it done. Thank you for sharing this experience with us.
What a scary time! I’m glad your boob didn’t turn out to be broken.
So glad you are fine. Goodness, the worry…
My MIL is on year 12 of fighting breast cancer. And fight she does.
I go to a great group @ Piedmont Hosp who start getting baselines at 38, so that’s what I did. Am faithful to get all my other lady parts checked yearly too.
I’ve got a hubby to love and kids to raise…
I hate it you had a few days of worry, but so thankful all is well.
Oh that’s so, so scary, girl.
I’m so glad this ended up getting an “all clear,” and thank you for using this as a chance for such an important reminder.
Everyone needs to get squished, yes?
yes, Galit. The normal mammogram really isn’t that painful at all (to me). And this maybe me realize how much better to find something before you can actually feel it. That way you are much more ahead of taking care of it.
Thanks so much Lisa. I’ve always had more worry and trouble with my other lady parts — that’s why this was so out of the blue. It also made me realize we can’t live in worry about what ifs. We just have to be diligent in self care/annual exams and know that we can deal with what comes our way.
I’m glad it turned out to be nothing. I had to have a breast biopsy when I was 25, not fun! This is a great post!
I had a scare with last year’s mammogram. Very disconcerting. I am thankful for your happy ending. It really does make you realize the importance of vigilance, doesn’t it?
Thank you for the reminder. I have not hit the 40 mark yet, but was told b/c of family history I should start with those soon. It is easy to neglect our own needs when we deal with family needs all the time. I need to remember that in order to keep them happy and healthy I need to take care of myself too.
Glad to hear it was okay the 2nd time around.
Had that same callback with the small plate a few years ago, and it was pretty scary. They also did an exam with an ultrasound to be sure. All was well. Dense breast tissue.
So glad yours was fine, too! 🙂
Had a scare 3 years ago so I had a mammogram. at 33. I’m totally panicked reading this but so glad the outcome was good.
It is scary Jana when you don’t get the “all clear” — but I kept thinking — it’s so much better to find something if it’s there and take care of it.
Oh my gosh, I’m so relieved for you! I spend most of my time avoiding the fact that this could be a real possibility. I just assume everything will be fine so I’m sure I would have reacted the same way you did upon receiving that mail! Scary!
My heart dropped as I read this. So glad to find out everything is good. Thanks for linking up 🙂
[…] last one was Abby-Normal. As happened to me last October. Then you freeze, your heart flutters and you can’t write the blog post encouraging all women over 40 to have their annual […]