Mammogram, Family History and a Scare

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks.  First, classes have been so demanding that the workload can be  and is at times very overwhelming.  It’s been difficult since the beginning to work full-time all day and then come home and try to complete any assignments.  Sometimes I really don’t even know where to begin.  Assignments that I think will take be minutes to an hour, end up taking me 3-4 hours.  Full-time work and Full-time school; not really recommended unless you like to torture yourself and love the stress.  Me not so much, but it’s almost over.

 Since I started furthering my education, it’s been a difficult road.  My mom was pretty sick the first two years.  She spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital with surgery after surgery and infection after infection.  Things with her have settled down since about mid-summer. That has been one less thing on my mind and has given me the opportunity to put more effort and concentration into my coursework. 

Anyway, that was until recently.  On November 1 I had my annual mammogram.  I get them early because of my family history.  I had my first at 30 years old, the second at 35 and two since.  I am very cautious when it comes to my health, especially my breast health.  A week later I went for my annual OBGYN visit, so far so good.  Yeah!! That always makes me happy.  I hate those visits and am always scared of what they might find/say.  He (my OB) said all looks good and if the results are abnormal he would call, other wise it’s see you next year.  I love to hear those words (as much as I hate these appointments).  I got home and the in the mail was the usual letter from the same office regarding my mammogram, which I had just a week before.  It read: Abnormal – Further tests (digital mammogram and/or ultrasound) are required.  Please call the office to set up your next appointment.   Ok!! Now, I am scared and worried.  Should I tell my parents, especially my mom? I know how worried she gets.  I felt a lump in my throat and sick to my stomach.  The first thought – OMG!! I might have Breast Cancer at 37 years old.  It took a few days to set up another appointment, however I did it.   I have to wait almost another week, before I find out more information.  So for,  6 days I had time to think, cry, and do nothing but worry.  Oh!! And Yes!! My breast (the one they found a suspicious spot) became really tender.  Ok now is this really something to worry about or am I having psychosomatic symptoms?  I don’t know, but all I did was worry.  I did not want to tell my parents how scared I was.  I began thinking about the worst possible case scenario.  How should I prepare?  What do I need to do?  and many more horrific thoughts.  I kept thinking this can’t be happening, I am too young to have breast cancer. I am too young to die.

After all, I am almost done getting my degree.!!! It is completely insane at all the thoughts that go through one’s mind when they get such news.  I had such a difficult time keeping focus on my schoolwork the past two weeks.  Well I went to the Breast Health Center and had another mammogram and ultrasound.  Both very uncomfortable, the pinching, squeezing and the rubbing were so uncomfortable.  The ultrasound felt like it took and eternity, I am sure it was only 5-10 minutes.  When the tech, finished, she brought the doctor in and I thought, oh no!!! This can’t be good news.  Anyway, she was just there to review the films right away.  Because I have very “dense” breast tissue, she needed to make sure there was nothing that went unnoticed.  

So I was cleared and asked to come back next year.  It was recommended that I use their facility in the future: 1). Due to family history 2) the machines are more hi-tech.  

So I am relieved to say I am healthy as are my girls.   

Remember you don’t have to have a family history.  Do your self breast exams on a regular basis

Stay Healthy!!!!