Back in January my gynecologist gave me a referral to have a baseline mammogram. Like a lot of women I put it off. At the end of April, after hearing and seeing tons of stuff about Susan G. Komen and breast cancer, I decided it was time to make the appointment.
I had a little spot I was concerned about in my left breast.
My appointment came and they asked if I had had a mammogram before. When I stopped nursing Elizabeth in 1998 I had one to check on a little post nursing problem. They only scanned the left side. About 4 or 5 years ago I had an ultrasound to check on the same problem but they did both sides.
They told me after the mammogram that if they had any concerns they would call me. A week went by and I didn’t receive my letter in the mail or a phone call. I called them. They said they were still waiting on the previous scans from Indianapolis. (Columbus didn’t have a breast center back in ‘98) Another week went by. I still hadn’t heard anything. No news is good news, right?
Yesterday, I am relaxing in front of the computer and the phone rings. It was the breast center. Instant panic set in. They said they had a spot they wanted to double check because they didn’t have a previous scan to compare it to. The spot they were concerned about was in my right breast not the left that I was concerned about. Longest night I have had in a long time. The following verses from Philippians popped into mind each time I allowed fear to enter my mind 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This morning we took the kids to school and then took the boys over to Grandma’s. We got to the breast center and I was pretty nervous. The workers there are very sweet and good to put up with my chatting. I chat nonstop when I get nervous. Mike is in the outer waiting room as I go back to prep for the mammogram. I sit in the women only waiting room with a couple of other nervous women. We nervously chat. It is my turn. The tech lady explained that they were doing some close up shots of the area of concern. Hey, I didn’t know my breast could squish that way!!! There were a few different scans. She showed me the lump they were watching.
I go back to the women’s waiting room watching other nervous faces come in and out. My name is called again. I now go in to have an ultrasound. That lady was good. We were talking about colors and how they can cheer us up. For a minute or two I completely forgot what I was there for. Bless her heart…she tried for about 10 minutes to find the lump. She got the films from the mammogram to help her find it. She never did find it with the ultrasound machine.
I go back to the women’s waiting room and I had a peace come over me. Thank you, LORD, for this peace.Another nurse led me to a dark office and Mike walked in. The radiologist had all the scans hanging on the screens. She said it appears that the lump is a lymph node. Two good things: 1. it had smooth edges. 2. there was a black spot in the lump which indicates it is fat. Cancers do not have fat in them. Whew! Then she says she can’t say with 100% confidence that it is a node because they couldn’t find it on the ultrasound to confirm it. She was great. She explained what all the tissues were and why she believes it to be a lymph node. She said because they had no previous scan to compare that side to, they want me to come back in 6 months for another mam on that side. If there are any changes in the lump they will do a biopsy on it. She said if I anguish over it before now and then we can go ahead and do a biopsy for peace of mind. I don’t know why, I tend to trust female doctors more. The fact that she was not too concerned made me feel better. She said, it may be how I am made and that is why I go back in 6 months. That way they will have a solid “baseline” mammogram. I remarked something that made Mike blush and the doctor and nurse laugh.
Most know that I nursed all four of the kiddos and I had pumped at the hospital after having Emma. That means things (what little there is) have become like little saddle bags. Those scans were deceptive…..they looked so perky and firm on there!
Go get your mammogram! Men, tell your women to get one!