Then one day I realized that it had been quite a while since I had a mammogram. So I called The People's Clinic (my regular source of medical attention) and made an appointment.
A week or two after I went to my appointment, I got a letter saying that I had been referred to St Mary's Hospital for a follow-up mammogram because the technicians at the People's Clinic "saw something they didn't like".
So I went to Saint Mary's and got mammogramed again.
Just days later, I was notified that I needed a biopsy. That didn't actually scare me so much. I remembered that, years ago, my mother had to have a breast biopsy. So I went in expecting it to be just a cyst or something even less scary.
Just days later, I was notified that I needed a biopsy. That didn't actually scare me so much. I remembered that, years ago, my mother had to have a breast biopsy. So I went in expecting it to be just a cyst or something even less scary.
Turns out I had a lump in both breasts. So I actually needed two biopsies and ultrasounds... and... and... and.
I'm not sure I've ever been poked and prodded so much, over so many doctor visits, in my whole life.
The final diagnosis was CANCER.
And not just one. I had one in each breast.
I say "had" because I've just come back from surgery.
The good news, so far, is that they were both small, and apparently pretty soft. So even if I had been remembering to do my regular breast exams, I would not have been able to find them myself. So it's a good thing that I thought to get that mammogram when I did.
I still haven't decided if I want to blog about the details. There was a lot. And most of it was extremely painful. For now, I think I will just say that I am swollen, sore, exhausted and ready to move on with my life.
Unfortunately, there is still much more to go. And I'm not even sure what that's going to look like.
I will say that the folks at St. Mary's have been really great. Even so, now that I'm home, I'm feeling so weak and helpless. I so desperately want to be done with this now.
Comments and words of encouragement are welcome. And if you'd like to help, please use the following link:
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